Blisters
Blisters are small pockets of fluid on top of the skin caused by friction. They can contain different substances, with some having blood, others pus but the majority are made up of a fluid called serum. Anybody can get a blister, although they are quite common for athletes like marathon runners as they are subject to long and constant friction on their feet.
Symptoms
It’s easy to tell if you have a blister. They look like small bubbles, sizing up to half an inch in diameter, and are usually filled with a clear fluid. Some blisters are not painful at all while others, especially if they are subject to pressure or weight of the body, can be excruciating.
Causes
A blister is caused through friction or heat to the skin. This friction creates a tear between the upper layer of the skin (epidermis) and the lower layers. This results in serum leaking into the space between the two skin layers and consequently, the surface of the skin is pushed out a little. This is why a blister is raised and filled with fluid.
A blister appears to protect the tissue under the skin. The bubble is there to protect this area from any further damage and allows it to heal undisturbed.
Blisters are common amongst athletes who work for long periods of time and exert lots of friction onto certain areas. For example, a marathon runner will place a lot of friction on their feet as their shoes will be rubbing for hours on end. Another example could be a golfer, who can be susceptible to blisters on the hands due to the friction between the hand and golf club.
Athletes are not the only people affected though. If a person was wearing shoes that were too big, the feet would be the subject of excess friction and this could result in a blister.
Treatment
The majority of blisters do not need treating and will heal themselves. If a blister is left, most of the time the fluid will gradually be reabsorbed by the body while new skin grows, while the “shell” of the bubble will dry and eventually peal.
You should never try to drain a blood-filled blister, although sometimes you may need to puncture a regular one. If the blister is located on your foot, it may become too painful and you could decide to take action. If you are going to burst it, remember to take the appropriate hygiene steps such as washing your hands, sterilizing the needle with alcohol and wrapping the blister with a sterilized bandage. Again, it’s recommended to try and let the blister heal on its own though.
Prevention
To minimize the risk of getting blisters, it’s always advised to take time in choosing your footwear. If you wear shoes that are not suited to your feet, in size or otherwise, you run a big risk of getting blisters. A common misconception is that only shoes that are too small cause blisters, yet this is completely not the case and big shoes also cause a lot of friction and consequently blisters.
For manual work involving the hands, it’s advised that gloves are worn. This will reduce the friction on the skin itself and therefore minimize the risk of blisters appearing.
Finally, some people like to use lubricants, such as talcum powder. This could be put in a shoe for example, reducing the friction between the foot and the inner shoe.