Blister Care

Video 52 of 54
2 min 24 sec
English
English
Want to watch this video? Sign up for the course or enter your email below to watch one free video.

Unlock This Video Now for FREE

This video is normally available to paying customers.
You may unlock this video for FREE. Enter your email address for instant access AND to receive ongoing updates and special discounts related to this topic.

Dealing with Blisters: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Understanding Blisters

Discover the origins of blisters and their various causes.

Causes of Blisters

Explore the factors that lead to blister formation:

  • Friction: Learn how poorly fitting shoes and physical activities can trigger friction blisters.
  • Skin Reactions: Understand how exposure to heat, burns, sunburn, and certain chemicals can cause skin reaction blisters.
  • Medical Conditions: Discover medical conditions like chickenpox, cold sores, and hand, foot, and mouth disease that may result in blisters.

Treating Blisters

Learn effective methods for blister treatment:

Protect and Preserve

Key steps to safeguard and aid the healing process:

  • Use of Plaster or Blister Dressing: Shield the blister without bursting it to prevent infection and further damage.
  • Avoid Bursting: Understand the importance of keeping the blister intact as it serves to protect the skin.
  • Natural Healing: Allow the blister to gradually reduce as the body absorbs the fluid and the top skin naturally sheds.
  • Handling Burst Blisters: Proper care when a blister has burst, including washing with water and applying a sterile dressing.

Seeking Medical Attention

Instances when it's necessary to consult a Doctor or Nurse:

  • Severe Pain: When blisters become extremely painful.
  • Infection: Cases where blisters get infected.
  • Recurring Blisters: When new blisters keep appearing.
  • Specific Causes: Blisters resulting from sunburn, burns, scalds, or allergic reactions.

In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed for treating infections.

Blood Blisters

Tips for managing blood blisters:

If a blood blister is painful, applying an ice pack for 10-30 minutes may provide relief, but use caution to avoid skin damage due to extreme cold.

Preventing Blisters

Proactive measures to reduce the risk of blister development:

  • Foot Care: Keep feet dry and choose well-fitting shoes.
  • Sports and Exercise: Wear thicker wool socks and avoid new, unbroken-in shoes.
  • Hand Protection: Use gloves to shield hands from potential blisters.