How To Get Rid of Blisters

What are Blisters?

Everyone who has had a blister will know just how painful, itchy and uncomfortable they can be. A blister manifests as a small bubble under the skin which fills up with a clear serum secreted from damaged blood vessels. There are also blood blisters which are filled with actual blood and are a red color. In this article you can read about what the main causes of blisters are and how you can go about getting rid of them.

What Causes Blisters

Blisters are most commonly found on the hands and feet. You can find them on other parts of the body, though the hands and feet are areas that are more likely to encounter causes of blisters.

  • Friction – Blisters can occur when an area of skin is repeatedly rubbed over a long period of time. This can cause a tear in the outer layer of the skin which allows fluid to leak through and become trapped between layers of the skin. When our hands or feet rub repeatedly on shoes or sports equipment they tend to result in blisters. The skin in this area is rough and thick which, along with being warm and moist, is the ideal situation for blisters to be created.
  • Irritation – Blisters can be caused by different kinds of irritants such as chemicals or harsh conditions. Frostbite and sunburn can cause damage to the skin and result in blistering. Eczema is a skin condition which can also cause blisters to form on the skin.
  • Allergies –When our skin comes into contact with poisons such as poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac, blisters can occur due to an allergic reaction, often called contact dermatitis.
  • Infections –There are various different infections that can cause blisters on the surface of the skin.
  • Varicella Zoster Virus – This is the virus that causes chicken pox in children and shingle in adults.
  • Coxsackievirus (Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease) – These infections which are more commonly found in children can produce blisters.
  • Bullous Impetigo infections – These are caused by either the staphylococci (staph) or streptococcus (strep) bacteria.
  • Herpes Simplex Virus (both 1 and 2) – Blisters can appear on the mouth or genital areas.
  • Skin Diseases – There are various different skin diseases that can cause blisters. Including:
    • Dermatitis Herpetiformis
    • EpidermolysisBullosa
    • CorphyriaCutanea
  • Medication – All medications tend to have some side effects that differ according to the individual, dose and conditions. Certain medications have been known to cause blisters on the skin of some patients. Here are some of the more common medications that can cause blistering:
    • Negram – antibiotic for urinary tract infections
    • Lasix – for high blood pressure and water retention
    • Vibramycin – also called doxycycline, this is an acne medication which can increase a patient’s sensitivity to light and can increase the risk of sunburn.

Valdecoxib, penicillins, barbiturates, sulfas, and lamotrigine are all much more severe medications that can cause blisters to occur in over 30% of the body. This is caused by a severe allergic reaction to the medication and, in these instances, the patient should be seen by a medical professional immediately