Dictionary:

blister

  (blĭs'tər)

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1. 1. A local swelling of the skin that contains watery fluid and is caused by burning or irritation.
   2. A similar swelling on a plant.
2. 1. A raised bubble, as on a painted or laminated surface.
   2. A rounded, bulging, usually transparent structure, such as one used for observation on certain aircraft or for display and protection of packaged products.

1. To cause a blister to form on.
2. To reprove harshly.

To break out in or as if in blisters.

[Middle English, probably from Old French blestre, of Germanic origin.]

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

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.

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.

A vesicle or bulla, usually a consequence of a burn or friction.

Definition

Blisters are small, raised lesions where fluid has collected under the skin. They may be caused by an allergic reaction, burns, frostbite, or by excessive friction or trauma to the skin. Blisters may also be a symptom of a systemic illness, or of a specific skin disorder.

Description

The thin-skinned sac of a blister contains fluid, and in most cases should not be ruptured, as rupturing can introduce infection and slow the healing process. Blisters that contain blood instead of fluid are aptly named blood blisters, and are caused by a rupture of blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin, usually due to trauma.

Causes & Symptoms

Blisters can be caused by a number of conditions and environmental agents, including:

• Friction. Rubbing or pinching can cause skin irritation and blistering. Friction blisters frequently occur on the hands and feet.
• Disease. Blisters are symptomatic of skin disorders such as impetigo, incontinentia pigmenti syndrome (IPS), and pemphigus vulgaris. Blisters may also be caused by diseases such as herpes and chickenpox.
• Contact dermatitis. Skin contact with an allergen (e.g., latex, cosmetics, cleaning solutions) can trigger redness, irritation, rash, and blistering of the skin. Blisters also typically appear after skin contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac.
• Burns. Blisters appear in cases of severe sunburn and thermal burns.
• Frostbite. Severely frostbitten skin frequently blisters.
• Trauma. Blood blisters are caused by trauma to the skin.

Other new causes of blisters are discovered by clinicians. In 2002, a report discussed how a newly identified autoimmune blistering disease involving the mucous membranes also increased the risk of some solid cancers.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis and treatment of most minor blisters can typically be made at home by examination of the affected area. Blisters thought to be caused by a systemic illness or disease may require professional diagnosis by a physician, dermatologist, or other healthcare professional. A medical history, physical examination, and further medical testing may be part of the diagnostic procedure.

Treatment

Unless they are hindering movement or are extremely painful due to their size and/or location, blisters should not be ruptured, or "popped," as doing so can introduce bacteria into the wound. If a blister does burst, the extra skin should be left intact. Blisters that are excessively large or painful should only be punctured using antiseptic procedures, preferably by or under the direction of a qualified healthcare professional.

Treatment of blisters depends on their cause. Blisters that are symptomatic of a disease or disorder require treatment of the illness itself. Blisters caused by friction or trauma can be treated by cleansing with mild soap, applying an antiseptic, and covering the area with a sterile bandage. An herbalist, aromatherapist, or holistic healthcare professional may recommend a compress of an antiseptic or anti-microbial herb such as marigold (Calendula officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), or tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia).

The blister should be kept clean and the bandage changed frequently. Blood blisters should be bandaged firmly to apply pressure to the area and prevent further blood vessel ruptures.

Allopathic Treatment

Conventional medicine typically follows the same procedures for treating skin blisters. A prescription or over-the-counter antiseptic ointment may be recommended to clean the blistered area.

Expected Results

With proper treatment, most minor blisters will heal without complication in a matter of days. More serious blisters caused by severe burns and certain diseases may produce permanent scarring or discoloration of the skin.

Prevention

Friction blisters can be prevented by wearing adequate protection on the area prone to blistering. For example, long distance runners can purchase properly fitting shoes. People who work with their hands or feet can purchase special gloves or shoes and boots. For instance, in 2002, a boot company introduced safety toe footwear for occupational use with enough room for toes to move freely without rubbing against steel–toe caps.

Fair-skinned individuals who are prone to sunburn should take extra precautions to avoid skin blistering, such as using a high SPF sunscreen (at least 30 SPF) and wearing a large brimmed hat and long-sleeved, loose clothing in the sun.

Resources

Books

Lawless, Julia. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Aromatherapy. Boston, MA: Element Books, 1997.

Periodicals

Minter, Stephen G. "Safety Boots to Prevent Blisters." Occupational Hazards (May 2002): 106.

Worcester, Sharon. "Risk of Solid Cancers Raised by Blistering Disease (Study of 35 Patients)." Skin &Allergy News (June 2002): 45.

[Article by: Paula Ford-Martin; Teresa G. Odle]

For more information on blister, visit Britannica.com.

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.

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.

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.

For the packaging type, see Blister pack. For the cancelled television series, see Blister (TV series).

Blister
Classification & external resources

ICD-10	T14.0
ICD-9	910-914, 940.0-949.5

A blister caused by 2nd degree burns

A blister or bulla is a defense mechanism of the human body. When the outer (epidermis) layer of the skin separates from the fibre layer (dermis), a pool of lymph and other bodily fluids collect between these layers while the skin re-grows from underneath. Blisters can be caused by chemical or physical injury. An example of chemical injury would be an allergic reaction. Physical injury can be caused by heat, frostbite, or friction.

Cause

Blisters typically develop when there is friction and irritation to the surface layer of the skin that cause it to separate from the second layer. Fluid fills in the space between these two layers. Blisters most often appear on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. The hands and feet often rub against shoes, socks, or sports and music equipment and create friction under moist, warm conditions perfect for blisters.

Prevention

Large blister caused by a sunburn

Minimizing friction is the primary method of preventing blisters. Appropriate footwear, socks, and gloves for work involving frequent hand use will help reduce blisters. Making sure that shoes are the right size and shape, and that socks are made from a synthetic blend is an effective way of reducing the occurrence of blisters. Other effective ways to reduce blisters is to apply petroleum jelly or talcum powder before exercising to reduce friction.

Treatment

Unless infection occurs, blisters usually heal quickly without much additional treatment. If a blister is punctured, it forms an open wound, which should be disinfected and bandaged. Loose bandaging should be used since a bandage that is too tight can result in rupture or rubbing against the blister, causing discomfort. If the blister is broken, the excess skin should not be removed[1] (unless it is dirty or torn). Removing the excess skin often makes the wound heal any infection quickly - if immediately disinfected. Signs of infection include pus draining from the blister, very red or warm skin around the blister, and red streaks leading away from the blister.

Small unbroken blisters that do not cause discomfort can be left alone to heal, because the best protection against infection is a blister's own skin.^[1]

Variations

If a blister is associated with sub-dermal bleeding it will partially fill with blood, forming a blood blister. Certain autoimmune diseases feature extensive blistering as one of their symptoms. These include pemphigus and pemphigoid. Blistering also occurs as part of foodborne illness with Vibrio vulnificus (seafood). The class of chemical weapons known as vesicants acts by causing blisters (often within the respiratory tract). Mustard gas and lewisite are examples of such agents.

See also

• Buboe
• Dracunculiasis
• Herpangina
• Herpes zoster
• Ulcer

External links

• How to Care for a Blister
• Blisters and Contact Dermatitis -- Med-Help.net, Medical Information Resource, 1999

References

1. ^ http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/foot_facts/a/aa031400a.htm

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

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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