But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call for medical transport to the hospital. Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care. Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Most blisters heal on their own. Home treatment may help decrease pain, prevent infection, and help heal large or broken blisters. Watch for a skin infection while your blister is healing.
Signs of infection include:. Home remedies may relieve itching from blisters. One way to help decrease itching is to keep the itchy area cool and wet. Apply a cloth that has been soaked in ice water, or get in a cool tub or shower. Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
When you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine. Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:. Some of the most common types of blisters can be prevented. To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:. Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Topic Overview Blisters are fluid-filled bumps that look like bubbles on the skin. Other types of injuries to the skin that may cause a blister include: Burns from exposure to heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation from the sun, or friction.
Cold injuries from being exposed to cold or freezing temperatures. Some spider bites, such as a bite from a brown recluse spider. Symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite include reddened skin followed by a blister that forms at the bite site, pain and itching, and an open sore with a breakdown of tissue necrosis that develops within a few hours to 3 to 4 days following the bite.
This sore may take months to heal. Pinching the skin forcefully, like when a finger gets caught in a drawer. A blood blister may form if tiny blood vessels are damaged.
Chickenpox varicella is a common contagious illness that is caused by a type of herpes virus. Chickenpox blisters begin as red bumps that turn into blisters and then scab over. It is most contagious from 2 to 3 days before a rash develops until all the blisters have crusted over. Shingles , often seen in older adults, is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles blisters look like chickenpox, but they usually develop in a band on one side of the body.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease , another type of viral infection, most often occurs in young children. Symptoms include a rash of small sores or blisters that usually appear on the hands and feet and in the mouth.
Cold sores , sometimes called fever blisters, are clusters of small blisters on the lip and outer edge of the mouth.
They are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Cold sore-type blisters that develop in the genital area may be caused by a genital herpes infection. Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection. Its blisters, which often occur on the face, burst and become crusty honey-coloured crusts. Infected hair follicles folliculitis cause red, tender areas that turn into blisters at or near the base of strands of hair. A scabies infection, which occurs when mites burrow into the skin, may cause tiny, itchy blisters that often occur in a thin line or curved track.
Bedbugs can cause tiny, itchy blisters anywhere on the body. Inflammation may cause skin blisters. Contact dermatitis occurs when skin touches something in the environment that causes an allergic reaction. Blisters may develop from a disease that causes your body to attack your own skin autoimmune disease. Check Your Symptoms Do you have blisters? How old are you? Less than 3 months.
Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female". This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Have you been burned, had an electrical shock, or inhaled smoke or fumes?
Do you have symptoms of a serious illness? The symptoms in an adult or older child are different than the symptoms in a baby or toddler. Do you think you may have a fever? Do you have blisters on your forehead, eyelid, or nose? Blisters in this area may be a sign of shingles and may cause serious eye problems.
Are there any symptoms of infection? Are there red streaks leading away from the area or pus draining from it? Do you have diabetes, a weakened immune system , peripheral arterial disease, or any surgical hardware in the area? Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area. Do you have a new rash in the shape of a band or a strip on just one side of the body? Is there any pain? How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?
Signs of pain in an adult or child are different than signs of pain in a baby or toddler. Has the pain lasted for more than 2 days? Do the blisters itch? Is the itching severe? Severe means that you are scratching so hard that your skin is cut or bleeding.
Has the itching interfered with sleeping or normal activities for more than 2 days? Itching has disrupted sleep or normal activities for more than 2 days. Do you have patches of itchy blisters that keep coming back? Do you think that a medicine could be causing the blisters? All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Skin. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of a blister Causes of blisters Self-help for blisters When to seek medical attention for a blister Treatment for blisters Prevention of blisters Where to get help.
Symptoms of a blister Blister symptoms include: a reddened and tender patch of skin a raised lump filled with clear fluid or, sometimes, blood. Causes of blisters Some common causes of blisters include: ill-fitting shoes friction for example, using a shovel all day without gloves can cause blisters on the palms of the hands scalds or burns severe sunburn allergic reaction to irritants viral skin infection such as herpes or warts fungal skin infection such as tinea on the soles of the feet or between the toes.
Self-help for blisters Blisters rarely need medical attention, unless they are severe, recurrent, caused by burns or are due to an underlying infection. Other suggestions for treating a simple friction blister include: If the blister has burst, don't peel off the baggy skin pocket — let your body heal the area in its own way and in its own time.
Apply antiseptic and a dressing or sticking plaster to the area to protect it and keep it free from dirt or irritants. Don't use tape alone for the dressing, as removing the tape may rip the roof skin off the blister. Change the dressing daily and re-apply antiseptic. Avoid 'folk remedies' like applying butter or vinegar.
These don't work. When to seek medical attention for a blister See your doctor or other health professional for treatment if: the blister is caused by a burn, scald or severe sunburn the blister starts weeping pus yellow or green, sometimes smelly, fluid the area becomes increasingly swollen or inflamed you suspect the blister is infected you develop multiple blisters without any preceding skin injury.
Treatment for blisters If your blister requires treatment by a health professional, this may include depending on the cause of the blister : sterile drainage of fluid from the blister professional dressing or padding techniques antibiotics, in the case of a bacterial infection antifungal preparations, in the case of a fungal infection antiviral preparations, in the case of a viral infection treatment for any underlying allergy.
Prevention of blisters Blister prevention strategies include: Wear properly fitted shoes. Choose moisture-wicking socks socks that draw sweat away from your feet or change socks twice daily if you have sweaty feet, as wet socks cause friction and rubbing. Blisters often heal on their own without treatment.
If needed, treatment will vary, depending on the cause. Some general guidelines for first aid may include:. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes blisters? Injury, allergic reactions, or infections can cause blisters. These include: Burns or scalds Sunburns Friction from a shoe, for example Atopic dermatitis Impetigo a contagious infection of the skin Pemphigus a rare, blistering skin disease that often occurs in middle-aged and older adults Pemphigoid a blistering autoimmune disorder, more common in older adults Dermatitis herpetiformis a blistering autoimmune disorder that usually affects adults between 20 and 60 years old Viral infections including chickenpox and herpes zoster What are the symptoms of a blister?
How are blisters diagnosed? Doctors can usually diagnose blisters by looking at your skin. How are blisters treated? Some general guidelines for first aid may include: Wash the area with soap and water. A cold or ice pack may help reduce swelling and discomfort. Keep the area clean and dry.
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