Before talking about blisters , we have to know very important aspects about our skin . Did you know that the skin is the largest organ in the human body?
It completely covers our body surface and is a living organ , which is also constantly being renewed. Its main function is to protect us but at the same time, it helps us communicate with the outside world.
The skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis , which is the most superficial, the dermis , the middle layer, and the hypodermis , which is the deepest layer. When a blister appears, we should know that the epidermis and dermis layers have been affected.
The blisters can receive different names such as phlyctenae or bullae.
A blister or blister is a kind of bubble caused by the accumulation of fluid that causes the separation of the epidermis, that first protective layer of the skin.
The liquid can be transparent or also called serous or plasma, but it can also have a bloody color or also called hematic. This fluid is produced by the body in response to the injury that occurs.
The term ampoule comes from the Latin « ampulla », whose translation is amphora or small container used to store liquid. If the blister is small, it is called a vesicle , but if it is large, it is called a bulla .
Causes of the appearance of blisters
Their appearance is a defense mechanism of our skin and the main cause is friction (rubbing or pressure) somewhere, although there may be others such as:
- Contact with chemicals.
- Skin diseases such as pemphigus, epidermolysis bullosa, edermatitis, etc.
- sunburn
- Allergic reaction.
- Viral infections such as varicella cost or herpes simplex itself.
Chafing on the feet is the most frequent since it occurs after continuous friction of the skin against the footwear, especially when we wear new shoes or go on long journeys.
Taking care of your feet is important and I leave you with some recommendations to avoid the appearance of blisters, such as: hydration, wearing seamless socks, adapted shoes that do not squeeze us, having the right size, using Vaseline for the premiere of shoes and taking very long walks .
When can we pop a blister?
Watch out! Because before bursting a blister we must know that there may be signs that alert us that we should go to our nurse. We need to look at our skin and look for signs of infection such as reddened skin , pain , warmth around the blister, and even fever or pus discharge .
It is also important to assess the size of the blister before thinking about whether it is positive to empty it. If it has a diameter of more than 2 centimeters or is in a compromised area, it should be evaluated by a health professional.
Did you know that the liquid in the blister protects against skin infections?
Although it may seem otherwise, the liquid is made up, among other things, of white blood cells with a high percentage of lymphocytes, which are responsible for fighting bacteria and external agents that can make us worse.
As a recommendation , it is best to avoid breaking the blister and not puncture it or extract the liquid for the reasons that I have mentioned before and also because, if we do not do it in optimal conditions, we can cause an infection.
To encourage them to heal on their own, it is advisable to keep the area well disinfected , clean and dry , avoiding moisture. Washing with warm water and soap in a careful way would suffice.
Well – evolving blisters will disappear in five to seven days . However, sometimes they break without even realizing it, causing the liquid to come out. In these cases, proper washing and keeping the area dry will be very important.
If you have pain in the area you can apply local cold but never directly in the affected area. Cover the ice sheet or a bag of peas with a cloth and apply it later, checking the area every 2-3 minutes to reassess.
It is important to be constant with the care of your skin to protect it by avoiding the appearance of any type of problem such as blisters, but if it appears, monitor your skin, keep it clean and dry and assess its evolution. Do not hesitate to go to the health professional before deciding to drain the blister because it must be done under special aseptic conditions.
Bibliographic references
Damien, GA, Castillo, NEM, & Del Pino, SH (2011). Characterization of blisters. Scientific Information Journal, 72(4).
González de la Guerra, JM, & González Campo, M. (2013). Friction blisters. Treatment with betadine® in primary health care. Rev. Role sick, 416-423.
Intriago, OLS, Lema, DFG, Castro, YXA, Flores, DPZ, Ávila, RMV, & Bailón, XTS 2020. Treatments and care of blisters caused by burns. RECIMUNDO, 4(1), 464-474.
