Blister

What is Blister?

The alternative name of blister is Herpangina. It is cause by the virus named coxsackieviruses. Blister is small pocket of fluid which is present in upper layer of the skin. Blister oftenly filled with blood or pus. It is 5mm in thickness having thin wall and watery fluid is called as bulla or a bleb. There are number of causes of blisters including burn vesicant agents, friction forces, and diseases of the skin. Blisters can developed from heat, frostbite, chemical injury, or friction

Types of Blister

• Friction Blister- It is developed due to the smashing or pinching injury.It occurs when the outer layer of the skin separate from the fiber layer.
• Blood Blister- A Blister with full of blood due to a touch, contusion or repeated friction.We can treat the blood blister at home if there is no any sign of any pain.
• Water Blister- A blister with clear watery contents that does not have pus and blood
• Foot Blister- The foot blister developed when feet get hot & sweaty, making socks stick to the feet .The space between the layer of the skin filled with the fluid. It is caused due to the caused by inappropriate footwear. It also causes due to he fungal infection .
• Fever Blister- A blister in the mouth causes pain, burning before stuffed and crusting over. It causes due to simple virus which is dormant in the body and can be reactivated by the factors such as stress, sunburn, or fever. So, it called a fever blister or a cold sore. Fever Blister is occur in epidemics portion.It is located on lip mouth and face. A fever blister is contagious.

Causes of Blister

It causes due to injury in the upper layer of the skin.It happen when the upper surfce remain intact.The skin can blister when it comes with in contact a cosmetic, detergent, solvent or other chemical which is known as contact dermatitis. Blisters develop an allergic reaction to an insect bite . The hands and feet frequently massage against shoes, socks or sports equipments and generate a friction and these moist, warm conditions are perfect for blisters.

• Bullous pemphigoid -It is skin disease which causes tightly filled blisters to produce usually affecting people over the age of 60.
• Pemphigus -It is a serious skin disease which causes due to applying the pressure on the skin due to which blister break easily and infect to the all area
• Dermatitis herpetiformis -It causes itchy blisters on the elbows, knees, back and buttocks .It develop in both patches of the body.
• Chronic bullous dermatosis -It causes cluster of blister on the face mouth or genital.

Symptoms of Blister

• headache
• backache
• runny nose
• drooling
• vomitting

Treatment of Blister

As new skin developed beneath the blister and the fluid contained within it slowly reabsorbed by the body and the skin on top will dry and peel out. The unbroken skin over a blister provides a natural carrier to infection. So you need to keep blisters intact and unbroken in order to avoid infection. Do not pierce a blister with a needle but break its own once the skin underneath has been healed. The blister present on hand or foot that makes it extra painful.

So follow these steps:

• Wash the hands and the blister with soap and water and then sterilize it with rubbing alcohol.
• Sterilize a pin with rubbing alcohol.
• Prepare small pinpricks on the edge of the blister and drain the fluid through it.
• The blister with first-aid ointment and a sterile bandage is covered.

A small blister is covered with the help of adhesive dressing.Change the bandage daily and check for symbols of infection heat, pain and swelling on or around the blister, pus, red streaks radiating from the blister, or fever

Prevention of Blister

• The blister on the skin can be prevented by wearing comfortable and well fitted shoes and clean socks.
• Use the moisture absorbing socks with sweaty feet.
• While doing the exercising or playing sports or games use special sport socks which keep feet feet dry and reduce the chance of blister.
• The heat prevent the formation of blister.
• To avoid blisters on the hands gloves while doing the work like gardening, and handling detergents, cleaning products, solvents and other chemicals.
• Use of the sunscreen and sun protection in hot area which prevent the blister from the sunburn and moisturizing help in discomfort in case of the burn.
• Apply talcum power or petrolium jelly before the exercise.