blister
American Heritage Dictionary:
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blis·ter
(blĭs'tər) 
n.
v., -tered, -ter·ing, -ters. v.tr.
To break out in or as if in blisters.
n.
- A local swelling of the skin that contains watery fluid and is caused by burning or irritation.
- A similar swelling on a plant.
- A raised bubble, as on a painted or laminated surface.
- A rounded, bulging, usually transparent structure, such as one used for observation on certain aircraft or for display and protection of packaged products.
v., -tered, -ter·ing, -ters. v.tr.
- To cause a blister to form on.
- To reprove harshly.
To break out in or as if in blisters.
[Middle English, probably from Old French blestre, of Germanic origin.]
blistery blis'ter·y adj.Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:
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blister
Rounded skin elevation in which fluid fills a separation between layers of epidermis or between the epidermis and the dermis. The fluid is usually clear; yellowish fluid contains pus, and red fluid contains blood. Blisters often occur on the palms or soles when pressure and friction cause an upper skin layer to move back and forth over the one under it. A small gap opens between them and becomes filled with fluid. This type generally heals spontaneously, sometimes leaving a thickened callus. Blisters that occur as symptoms of contact dermatitis, viral infection, or autoimmune disease can appear anywhere on the body and may leave scars.
For more information on blister, visit Britannica.com.
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An injury in which the top layer of skin is detached from the underlying layer; the gap between the two layers becomes filled with a watery fluid from damaged cells. A blister is usually painful because the thick outer epidermis of the skin is lifted away to expose nerve-endings. Blisters are usually caused by friction. Training vigorously in brand new shoes is a common cause among exercisers. The time-honoured practice of applying surgical spirit to harden the feet may reduce the occurrence of blisters. Wearing two pairs of socks may prevent blisters by allowing friction to occur between the socks rather than between the socks and skin. However, if large uncomfortable blisters occur despite precautionary measures, they can be treated by releasing the fluid with a sterilized needle, snipping away dead skin, and then applying a sterile dressing. Small blisters should be left unbroken as long as possible to reduce the risk of infection.
Oxford Companion to the Body:
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blister
A raised, well circumscribed lesion of the skin, containing a sterile fluid, derived from the serum. Strictly, a blister or bulla has a diameter of greater than 5 mm, smaller lesions being called vesicles. Commonly they become infected and fill with pus, and are then known as pustules. They are caused by trauma (friction, burns, and scalds), allergic contact dermatitis, insect bites, sunburn, etc. In earlier times agents were used to raise vesicles or blisters on the skin to relieve the pain from deeper structures by the process of counter-irritation. A commonly used vesicant was a powder derived from the pulverized dried beetles of Lytta vesicatoria, containing cantharidin, and commonly known as Spanish Fly or Blistering Beetle.
— Alan W. Cuthbert
Roget's Thesaurus:
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blister
verb
- To criticize harshly and devastatingly: drub, excoriate, flay, lash, rip into, scarify, scathe, scorch, score, scourge, slap, slash. Informal roast. Slang slam. Idioms: burn someone's ears, crawl all over, pin someone's ears back, put someone on the griddle, put someone on the hot seat, rake over the coals, read the riot act to. See praise/blame.
1. A roughly circular or elongated unbonded area between plies of laminated constructions, as in wood veneer. Usually caused by entrapped moisture. Also called steam blow.
2. A spongy raised portion of a roofing membrane, where separation of the felts has occurred or the membrane is not bonded to the substrate as a result of the expansion of water and air trapped in the membrane.
3. A raised spot on the surface of the metal caused by expansion of gas in a sub-surface zone during thermal treatment.
4. A raised area on the surface of a molded plastic caused by the pressure of internal gases on its incompletely hardened surface.
5. See blistering
6. A convex, raised area on the surface of a pipe which indicates an internal separation.
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An injury to the skin in which the top layer is detached from the underlying layer. The gap between the layers becomes filled with a watery fluid lost from damaged cells. The blister is usually painful because the thick outer epidermis is lifted away, exposing nerve endings. Blisters are usually caused by friction between the skin and another surface. They are common in athletes who train or compete in new shoes that have not been worn-in properly. The prophylactic application of surgical spirits is a time-honoured tradition, which may help prevent blisters. A blister can be treated by releasing the fluid with a sterilized needle and then applying a sterile dressing. The roof of the blister should not be removed because it acts as biological dressing and accelerates healing.
Columbia Encyclopedia:
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blister
blister, puffy swelling of the outer skin (epidermis) caused by burn, friction, or irritants like poison ivy. A response of the body to protect deeper tissue, blisters generally contain serum, the liquid component of blood. The so-called blood blister, however, forms over ruptured capillaries and therefore contains whole blood.
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A bulge or blisterlike protuberance on an aircraft, usually dome-shaped and often transparent, from which a person may observe or operate a flexible gun.
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verb trans
verb trans
1: A person, esp. an annoying one. (1806 —) .
P. G. Wodehouse Women are a wash-out. I see no future for the sex, Bertie. Blisters, all of them (1930).
2: A summons. (1903 —) .
F. Sargeson He'd been paying off a few bob every time he had a few to spare...And then he gets a blister! (1947). .
3: To serve with a summons. (1909 —) .
verb trans
1: A person, esp. an annoying one. (1806 —) .
P. G. Wodehouse Women are a wash-out. I see no future for the sex, Bertie. Blisters, all of them (1930).
2: A summons. (1903 —) .
F. Sargeson He'd been paying off a few bob every time he had a few to spare...And then he gets a blister! (1947). .
3: To serve with a summons. (1909 —) .
| bliss, bling-bling, blinder | |
| blithered, blivit, blob |
Saunders Veterinary Dictionary:
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blister
1. a vesicle, especially a bulla, a lesion of the skin.
2. a paste containing an irritant such as cantharides used to plaster onto a horse's leg to produce counterirritation and encourage healing of a strained tendon or ligament.
- b. beetle — see epicauta vittata.
- blood b. — a vesicle having bloody contents, as may be caused by a pinch or bruise.
- b. fly — see cantharis vesicatoria.
- internal b. — see sclerosing agents.
Mosby's Dental Dictionary:
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blister
n
A vesicle or bulla, usually a consequence of a burn or friction.
Random House Word Menu:
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categories related to 'blister'
- Signs and Symptoms - blister: external swelling that contains watery fluid and blood or pus, caused by friction
- Ceramics and Glassmaking - blister: glaze fault caused by impurities
See crossword solutions for the clue Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Blister
For other uses, see Blister (disambiguation).
For the term "vesiculation" as used in geology, see vesicular texture.
 |
Look up blister in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
| Blister | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
 Blister on foot caused by wearing flip flops. |
|
| ICD-10 | T14.0 |
| ICD-9 | 919.2 |
| DiseasesDB | 1777 |
| MedlinePlus | 003239 |
| MeSH | D001768 |
A blister is a small pocket of fluid within the upper layers of the skin, typically caused by forceful rubbing (friction), burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection. Most blisters are filled with a clear fluid called serum or plasma.[1] However, blisters can be filled with blood (known as blood blisters) or with pus (if they become infected).
The word "blister" entered English in the 14th century. It came from the Middle Dutch "bluyster", and was a modification of the Old French "blostre" which meant a leprous nodule—a rise in the skin due to leprosy.
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Contents
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Causes
A blister may form when the skin has been damaged by friction or rubbing, heat, cold or chemical exposure. Fluid collects between the epidermis — the upper layer of the skin — and the layers below. This fluid cushions the tissue underneath, protecting it from further damage and allowing it to heal.
Friction or rubbing
Intense rubbing can cause a blister, as can any friction on the skin if continued long enough. This kind of blister is most common after walking long distances or wearing a poorly-tuned new pair of shoes.[2][3][4] Blisters are most common on the hands and feet, as these extremities are susceptible while walking, running, or performing repetitive motions. Blisters form more easily on moist skin than on dry or soaked skin,[5] and are more common in warm conditions. Less aggressive rubbing over long periods of time may cause calluses to form rather than a blister. Both blisters and calluses can lead to more serious complications, such as foot ulceration and infection, particularly when sensation or circulation is impaired, as in the case of diabetes, neuropathy or peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Extreme temperature
The time of blistering is one of the tools used to determine the degree of burns sustained. First and second degree burns may result in blistered skin; however, it is characteristic of second degree burns to blister immediately, whereas first degree burns can have blisters after a couple of days. Blisters can also form on the hands and feet as a result of tissue damage incurred by frostbite.[6]
Chemical exposure
Sometimes, the skin will blister when it comes into contact with a cosmetic, detergent, solvent or other chemical. This is known as contact dermatitis. Blisters can also develop as a result of an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting. Some chemical warfare agents, known as blister agents or vesicants, cause large, painful blisters wherever they contact skin; an example is mustard gas.
Crushing/Pinching
A blood blister usually forms when a minute blood vessel close to the surface of the skin ruptures (breaks) and blood leaks into a tear between the layers of skin. This can happen if the skin is crushed, pinched or aggressively squeezed.
Disease
There are also a number of medical conditions that cause blisters. The most common are chickenpox, herpes, impetigo, and a form of eczema called dyshidrosis. Other, much rarer conditions that cause blisters include:
- Bullous pemphigoid – a skin disease that causes large, tightly-filled blisters to develop, usually affecting people over the age of 60.
- Pemphigus – a serious skin disease in which blisters develop if pressure is applied to the skin; the blisters burst easily, leaving raw areas that can become infected.
- Dermatitis herpetiformis – a skin disease that causes intensely itchy blisters, usually on the elbows, knees, back and buttocks. The blisters usually develop in patches of the same shape and size on both sides of the body.
- Chronic bullous dermatosis – a disease that causes clusters of blisters on the face, mouth or genitals.
- Cutaneous radiation syndrome
- Epidermolysis Bullosa
Prevention
Friction blisters
Friction blisters, caused by rubbing against the skin, can be prevented by reducing the friction to a level where blisters will not form.[2][3][4][7] This can be accomplished in a variety of ways.
Blisters on the feet can be prevented by wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes and clean socks. Inherently ill-fitting or stiffer shoes, such as high heels and dress shoes, present a larger risk of blistering. Blisters are more likely to develop on skin that is moist, so socks that manage moisture or frequent sock changes will aid those with particularly sweaty feet. While exercising or playing sports, special sports socks can help keep feet drier and reduce the chance of blisters.[8] Before going for a long walk, it is also important to ensure that shoes or hiking boots have been properly broken in.
Even before a "hot" or irritated area on the foot is felt, taping a protective layer of padding or a friction-reducing interface between the affected area and the footwear can prevent the formation of a blister.[9] Bandages, moleskin and tapes generally must be applied to the foot daily, and most have a very high coefficient of friction (COF), but a friction management patch applied to the shoe will remain in place much longer, throughout many changes of socks and insoles. This type of intervention may be used with footwear that is worn daily, with specialty shoes and boots like hockey skates, ice skates, inline skates, ski boots and cleats, or even with orthotic braces and splints.
To avoid friction blisters on the hands, gloves should be worn when using tools such as a shovel or pickaxe, doing manual work such as gardening, or using sports equipment like golf clubs or baseball bats. Oars used for competitive rowing are known for causing frequent blisters on the hands of oarsmen. Weightlifters are also prone to blisters. To further reduce the occurrence one can tape the hands, and there are also a number of products on the market that claim to reduce the occurrence of blisters. Many of these are found in off-road powersports. These are all intended to be worn as a liner underneath a glove. The majority of these offerings simply add padding and create a layer that reduces the coefficient of friction between the skin and the glove.
A lubricant, typically talcum powder, can be used to reduce friction between skin and apparel in the short term. People put talcum powder inside gloves or shoes for this purpose, although this type of lubricant will increase the friction in the long term, as it absorbs moisture. Increased friction makes blisters more likely.
Other
Sunscreen and sun protection should also be used during the hottest part of the day to avoid blisters from sunburn that can cause Vamiclicitis. Protective gloves should be worn when handling detergents, cleaning products, solvents and other chemicals.
Treatment
Friction blisters
Friction blisters are caused by excess shear stress between the surface of the skin and the body. The strata (a thin layer) of skin around the Stratum lucidum is most susceptible to shear. As the Stratum lucidum tears away from the connecting tissues below, plasma from the cells diffuses (spreads freely) out. This plasma solution helps new cells divide and grow into new connective tissues and epidermal layers.
The clear fluid will be reabsorbed as new cells develop and the swollen appearance will subside. The time for blisters to heal depends on the location and the size of the area damaged. Protecting the blister from abrasion or additional shearing will help keep the blister intact.
Painful blisters located on hands (palmar surface) and feet (plantar surface) are due to tissue shearing deeper in the epidermis, near nerve endings. Lower tissues are more susceptible to infection.
In military situations it may not be possible to reduce friction and allow a blister to heal and reduce naturally, as the soldier must continue moving. A common treatment used by medics in the U.S. Army is to drain the fluid from a blister and to inject the same amount of compound tincture of benzoin to help seal the space created by the blister, to serve as a local antiseptic, and to prevent further abrasion or loss of skin.[10]
Broken blisters can occasionally become infected. Infection should be prevented with antibiotics if possible, and treated if necessary. There is heightened concern about MRSA and other kinds of infections from blisters, so they should be watched carefully.[11]
Blisters due to sunburn
Most of these blisters will heal naturally. Moisturizing and after-sun or calamine lotions can help to ease discomfort in the case of burns.
Immediate relief from a burn blister may be found by putting ice on the blister for a few hours if exposure to air causes a harsh burning sensation. Afterward, one may successfully drain a disinfected (alcohol/peroxide) blister with a similarly disinfected pin with a puncture or two and air dry. Then gradually expose the small pinhole and the entire blister area to alcohol over the ensuing days when the extreme sensitivity has decreased and exposure to water and soap causes no discomfort.
See also
References
- ^ Uchinuma, E; Koganei, Y; Shioya, N; Yoshizato, K (1988). "Biological evaluation of burn blister fluid". Annals of plastic surgery 20 (3): 225–30. doi:10.1097/00000637-198803000-00005. PMID 3358612.
- ^ a b [Naylor PFD. "The Skin Surface and Friction," British Journal of Dermatology. 1955;67:239-248.]
- ^ a b [Naylor PFD. "Experimental Friction Blisters," British Journal of Dermatology. 1955;67:327-342.]
- ^ a b [Sulzberger MB, Cortese TA, Fishman L, Wiley HS. "Studies on Blisters Produced by Friction," Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 1966;47:456-465.]
- ^ [Carlson JM. "The Friction Factor," OrthoKinetic Review. Nov/Dec 2001;1(7):1-3.]
- ^ "First Degree Burns". Uuhsc.utah.edu. http://uuhsc.utah.edu/burncenter/emergencycare/firstdegree.html. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
- ^ [Hanna T, Carlson JM. "Freedom from Friction," OrthoKinetic Review. Mar/Apr 2004;4(2):34-35.]
- ^ "Treatment Skin Blisters - Blister On Bottom Of Foot - Blister On Foot". Goengo.com. http://www.goengo.com/facts_studies_blisters101.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Department of the Army TRADOC Pam 600-4, INITIAL ENTRY TRAINING SOLDIER’S HANDBOOK" (PDF). http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/p600-4.pdf. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
- ^ [2][dead link]
External links
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Look up blister in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Translations:
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Blister
Dansk (Danish)
n. - vable, blister, blæne
v. tr. - lægge trækplaster på
v. intr. - danne vabler, få vabler
Nederlands (Dutch)
blaar, bladder, zeurpiet, bladderen, blaren krijgen, tekeergaan tegen
Français (French)
n. - ampoule, cloque, soufflure (de métal), bulle (de verre), (fig) fléau, poison, plaie (péj)
v. tr. - se faire une ampoule, cloquer, faire cloquer
v. intr. - se faire une ampoule, cloquer, former des soufflures
Deutsch (German)
n. - Blase
v. - Blasen werfen/bekommen
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - καντήλα, φουσκάλα, φυσαλίδα, κακός μπελάς
v. - φουσκαλιάζω, βγάζω φουσκάλες ή κάλους, κατακρίνω δριμύτατα, καυτηριάζω
Italiano (Italian)
coprirsi di vesciche, vescica
Português (Portuguese)
n. - bolha (f)
v. - formar bolhas, empolar
Русский (Russian)
покрываться волдырями, волдырь, водянка
Español (Spanish)
n. - ampolla, vejiga, envase de píldoras
v. tr. - ampollar
v. intr. - ampollarse, formar ampollas
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - blåsa, blämma, utbuktning, dragplåster
v. - åstadkomma blåsor
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
水泡, 气泡, 砂眼, 泡形罩, 使起水泡, 痛打, 猛烈抨击, 起水泡
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 水泡, 氣泡, 砂眼, 泡形罩
v. tr. - 使起水泡, 痛打, 猛烈抨擊
v. intr. - 起水泡
한국어 (Korean)
n. - 물집, 거품, 돌출부
v. tr. - ~에 물집이 생기게 하다, ~을 공격하다
v. intr. - 물집이 생기다
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 水ぶくれ, 疱疹, ふくれ, あわ, 不快な人物
v. - 水ぶくれをつくる, 傷付ける
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) تورم جلدي خفيف, بثرة مائيه (فعل) تنفط (الجلد)
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - בועה, אבעבועה, כוויה
v. tr. - גרם לבועות
v. intr. - התכסה בועות
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The Oxford Companion to the Body. Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Blister.
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