A blister is a pocket of fluid under the outer layer of skin which is normally circular in shape. The fluid is usually a clear serum (secreted from the damaged blood vessels), but a blister can also be filled with blood or pus (when they become affected). A blister filled with serum acts as a protective barrier for the damaged area. (The most common causes of blisters are heat burns or friction burns, caused from foot ware or clothing rubbing against the skin.)
Blisters are normally caused by injuries to the skin such as:
Blisters can also occur after contact with chemicals, cosmetics, detergents (sometimes known as contact dermatitis) and as a result of an allergic reaction to an insect bite/sting.
There are also a number of common medicinal conditions that cause blisters such as:
There are also rarer conditions and underlying conditions that can result in blisters. If blisters appear without apparent injury to the skin, see your doctor for further investigations.
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Homeopathy has been traditionally used to treat blisters. Homeopathic remedies such as Nat mur and Rhus tox can help speed up the healing process when you have a blister. (Always read the label.)∏
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Never burst a blister. The blister is the body’s natural method of self-healing. It will burst by itself when the skin underneath has healed. Bursting a blister often just leads to infection.
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Cover blisters with a plaster or for large ones, gauze and padding. Make sure you change the dressing regularly to keep the area clean.
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Don’t peel off the dead skin after the blister has burst. Instead, press the skin down to get rid of the excess fluid left inside and then cover with a plaster or sterile dressing until it has healed.
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Apply ice to blood blisters to help with the pain, ensuring to wrap the ice in a towel first to prevent ice burn.
∏ On no account should prescribed medication be discontinued, except under a doctor’s supervision.
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