A blister is a common skin lesion that manifests as a bubble of fluid under the skin. The clear, watery liquid inside a blister is called serum. Blisters develop as a reaction to injured skin. If the blister remains unopened, the serum can provide natural protection for the skin beneath it. Medically speaking, small blisters are called vesicles and those larger than half an inch are called bullae. A blood blister is filled with blood, or a mixture of blood and serum.
How do foot blisters develop?
The most common cause of blisters on our feet are from friction, caused by wearing shoes that don’t fit well. The shoe may be too long, short, narrow, or wide. It might also mean that the toe box does not have enough depth or that the shape of the shoe is not appropriate for your foot type. Our skin has layers and when there is friction or trauma, the layers move on one another, and fluid collects in the affected pocket of tissue.
What are the other causes of foot blisters?
Allergies – Contact Dermatitis is the medical term for an allergic skin reaction. Certain fabrics, detergents, adhesives, soaps, plants, or creams can cause a rash with small blisters. A topical cream can be purchased over the counter or prescribed to help with the itch, redness, and discomfort.
Irritation – Chemical exposure or extreme temperatures leading to sunburns or frostbite can cause blistering. Trauma due to force, pinching or rubbing can also create a blister, or even a blood blister. It’s best to seek medical advice to make sure further complications are not a concern.
Infection – Bacteria, viruses and fungal infections can also cause blistering. These infections can resemble each other and almost always require treatment with an anti-microbial medicine to avoid spreading.
Medications – Some medications can cause blistering as a reaction in the skin, or they may cause photosensitivity to the sun which can make you more susceptible to a sunburn. If you started a new medication and suddenly noticed blistering, contact your primary care provider right away!
Systemic Medical Conditions – Some autoimmune conditions may cause blistering such as pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis and various viral infections can also cause blisters to develop. Seeking the advice of a medical professional may be an opportunity to identify a condition that needs to be treated.
Come See Us!
Medical footcare clinicians such as BioPed’s Chiropodists and Footcare Nurses can assess and treat skin conditions such as blisters. It is recommended you don’t pop blisters. If the blister is suspected to be infected, your foot care clinician may drain it for you and treat it accordingly. Your BioPed lower limb health care team will collaborate and recommend the best next steps for healing, which may also include a footwear assessment or biomechanical intervention to correct the way you walk and move about.
Give your local BioPed a call today to book an appointment!
