Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of Burn BlistersAt-Home CareWhat Not to DoWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Burn Blisters
At-Home Care
What Not to Do
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Treatment
Prevention
A burn blister is a bubble of clear fluid under the skin that forms as the body’s way of protecting a burned area. The fluid, called serum, is similar toplasma(the clear liquid element in your blood) and contains proteins and other components believed to promote wound healing.
Burn blisters are different from the blisters that develop as a result of repeated friction, rashes, or pinched skin.They commonly occur withsecond-degree burnsfrom a heat source,chemicals, frostbite, or sunburn.
Blisters indicate second-degree burns and potential complications.A.D.A.M.
Treatment for burn blisters will vary based on the severity of the underlying burn. Basic first aid can help first-degree and mild second-degree burns, while more advanced care is necessary for moderate or severe second-degree burns and all third-degree burns.
Mild burn blisters may require medical attention if the burn becomes infected.
At-Home Treatment
Blisters that occur withfirst-degree burnsand mild second-degree burns can typically be treated with at-home care.
To help the area heal, try the following steps:
Take anover-the-counter (OTC) pain relieverfor any pain or inflammation. Be sure to watch for signs of infection, which may require additional medical care.
With the right treatment and care, most minor burn blisters will take up to three weeks to heal.If you notice that the burn blister does not appear to be healing after a week or so, call your healthcare provider.
If you notice your skin has blistered after a burn, don’t pop it. In addition:
Don’t touch the blister without washing your hands, and try to keep the area clean and bandaged. It’s important to keep the area clean and the blister intact so the skin can heal without infection.
Should You Pop a Burn Blister or Leave It?Don’t try topop a burn blister. When you do, you remove the protective fluid. Popping a blister slows the healing process and makes the burn more prone to infection. If the blister pops on its own, peel off the dead skin, and keep the area clean and covered.
Should You Pop a Burn Blister or Leave It?
Don’t try topop a burn blister. When you do, you remove the protective fluid. Popping a blister slows the healing process and makes the burn more prone to infection. If the blister pops on its own, peel off the dead skin, and keep the area clean and covered.
You should see a healthcare provider immediately for severe second-degree burns with burn blisters, and all third-degree burns. Head straight to the emergency room if you notice the following symptoms:
Also seek immediate medical care if a burn blister shows signs of infection, such as:
While awaiting medical assistance, you should:
Burns on Infants or Elderly PeopleFirst-degree or very mild second-degree burns can typically heal on their own with at-home care. But if the first-degree burn covers a large area, or happens to an infant or elderly person, it’s a good idea to get urgent medical care.
Burns on Infants or Elderly People
First-degree or very mild second-degree burns can typically heal on their own with at-home care. But if the first-degree burn covers a large area, or happens to an infant or elderly person, it’s a good idea to get urgent medical care.
Treatment also will depend on the type of burn. The American Burn Association recommends that allchemical burnsand high-voltage electrical burns, for example, should be treated at a burn center.People with burn blisters and related injuries, like smoke inhalation, also require specialized care.
Let your healthcare provider know if you’ve experienced a burn. Even with a minor injury,tetanusbacteria can enter a burn wound. You may need abooster shotif your last tetanus shot was more than five years ago.
Burns and burn blisters aren’t always preventable, but experts recommend the following safety measures to reduce the risk of occurrence:
Summary
Burn blisters are fluid-filled bubbles that form over burned areas of skin as a layer of protection. They should never be popped, as this could increase the likelihood of an infection. Mild burn blisters can be safely treated at home with basic first aid care, but burn blisters that occur with moderate or severe burns will need immediate medical attention.
Burns and burn blisters that may occur with them are common household injuries, but that doesn’t make them any less painful or serious. If your blister doesn’t show signs of improvement in a few days or if it appears infected, you should see a healthcare provider for treatment.
A Word From VerywellMost simple burns can be managed at home. Rinse with cold water, apply an over-the-counter topical antibiotic ointment, and keep covered to prevent infection. Remember that if you develop a blister, leave it, and it will slowly heal and drain over time.—MICHAEL MENNA, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Most simple burns can be managed at home. Rinse with cold water, apply an over-the-counter topical antibiotic ointment, and keep covered to prevent infection. Remember that if you develop a blister, leave it, and it will slowly heal and drain over time.—MICHAEL MENNA, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Most simple burns can be managed at home. Rinse with cold water, apply an over-the-counter topical antibiotic ointment, and keep covered to prevent infection. Remember that if you develop a blister, leave it, and it will slowly heal and drain over time.
—MICHAEL MENNA, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gupta S, Chittoria R, Chavan V, et al.Role of burn blister fluid in wound healing.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2021;14(3):370. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_90_19Harvard Health.Blisters (overview).University of California San Diego Health.About burns.Cedars-Sinai.Blisters.American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent and treat blisters.University of California: UCI Health.Home burn care do’s and don’ts.National Library of Medicine.Minor burns - aftercare.American Academy of Dermatology.How to treat a first-degree, minor burn.National Library of Medicine.Burns.MedlinePlus.Shock.American Burn Association.Guidelines for burn patient referral.American Burn Association.Prevention resources.U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.CPSC safety alert: avoiding tap water scalds.Consumer Product Safety Commission.Portable fuel container compliance guide.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gupta S, Chittoria R, Chavan V, et al.Role of burn blister fluid in wound healing.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2021;14(3):370. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_90_19Harvard Health.Blisters (overview).University of California San Diego Health.About burns.Cedars-Sinai.Blisters.American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent and treat blisters.University of California: UCI Health.Home burn care do’s and don’ts.National Library of Medicine.Minor burns - aftercare.American Academy of Dermatology.How to treat a first-degree, minor burn.National Library of Medicine.Burns.MedlinePlus.Shock.American Burn Association.Guidelines for burn patient referral.American Burn Association.Prevention resources.U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.CPSC safety alert: avoiding tap water scalds.Consumer Product Safety Commission.Portable fuel container compliance guide.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gupta S, Chittoria R, Chavan V, et al.Role of burn blister fluid in wound healing.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2021;14(3):370. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_90_19Harvard Health.Blisters (overview).University of California San Diego Health.About burns.Cedars-Sinai.Blisters.American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent and treat blisters.University of California: UCI Health.Home burn care do’s and don’ts.National Library of Medicine.Minor burns - aftercare.American Academy of Dermatology.How to treat a first-degree, minor burn.National Library of Medicine.Burns.MedlinePlus.Shock.American Burn Association.Guidelines for burn patient referral.American Burn Association.Prevention resources.U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.CPSC safety alert: avoiding tap water scalds.Consumer Product Safety Commission.Portable fuel container compliance guide.
Gupta S, Chittoria R, Chavan V, et al.Role of burn blister fluid in wound healing.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2021;14(3):370. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_90_19
Harvard Health.Blisters (overview).
University of California San Diego Health.About burns.
Cedars-Sinai.Blisters.
American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent and treat blisters.
University of California: UCI Health.Home burn care do’s and don’ts.
National Library of Medicine.Minor burns - aftercare.
American Academy of Dermatology.How to treat a first-degree, minor burn.
National Library of Medicine.Burns.
MedlinePlus.Shock.
American Burn Association.Guidelines for burn patient referral.
American Burn Association.Prevention resources.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.CPSC safety alert: avoiding tap water scalds.
Consumer Product Safety Commission.Portable fuel container compliance guide.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
