If you have ever had a blister, whatever the cause, you know just how painful they can be. A blister is a bubble under the skin that is filled with serum; a clear fluid excreted by damaged blood vessels. ‘Blood’ blisters are filled with blood. Blisters are usually itchy and painful. Sometimes you may not even feel them. Here you will find practical information regarding the many causes of blisters, and how to get rid of blisters.

1. The Causes of Blisters:

Blisters are most commonly found on your hand and feet, but can also form on other parts of the body from a wide variety of causes. Some of these blister causes are:

• Friction. When a single area of skin is repeatedly rubbed over extended period of time, a tear forms under the outer layer of skin (epidermis), causing fluid to leak through and become trapped between layers of skin. This is the cause of most hand blisters and foot blisters because they often rub against shoes, sports equipment such as rackets, and tools such as rakes or shovels. Also, the thick skin in these areas, along with a moist and warm environment creates the ideal conditions for blister formation.
• Irritation. Burns of any kind, including sunburn, can cause blisters to form. Irritating chemicals coming in contact with the skin may also create blisters. Extremely cold conditions can result in frostbite, which can cause blisters when the skin is re-warmed. Also, eczema, a skin condition characterized by a persistent rash that may be red, dry, and itchy, can result in blister formation.
• Allergic Reactions. If you come into contact with a poison such as poison ivy (Learn how get rid of poison ivy), poison oak (Tips on how to get rid of poison oak), or poison sumac, blisters may form due to what is called allergic contact dermatitis.
• Infections. There are many infections that can cause blisters to appear on your skin;
  • Varicella Zoster Virus; the cause of chickenpox in children, or shingles in adults.
  • Coxsackievirus (Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease) infections commonly found in children can produce blisters.
  • Bullous Impetigo infections caused by either the staphylococci (staph) or streptococcus (strep) bacteria. This condition is most commonly found in children and appears in small clusters. If impetigo is not treated, it will spread and persist.
  • Herpes Simplex Virus (both 1 and 2) can cause blisters to appear on the mouth or genital areas.
• Diseases of the Skin. Many skin diseases can cause blister formation. Some of these include dermatitis herpetiformis (a sensitivity in the intestine to gluten in the diet), epidermolysis bullosa (a rare hereditary disease that makes the skin highly susceptible to blisters as a result of minor friction or irritation), and porphyria cutanea tarda (a condition that causes the skin to be extremely sensitive to sunlight, resulting in sunburn and blisters).
• Medication. When taking medications you should be aware of all side effects as many can cause skin blisters to appear. One such antibiotic prescribed to patients with urinary tract infections (NegGram), and another which is prescribed in cases of high blood pressure and to reduce swelling/water retention (Lasix) can cause blister formation. Other medications, such as doxycycline (Vibramycin), an acne medicine, can increase sensitivity to sunlight, thereby increasing the likelihood of getting blistering sunburn. A more severe reaction to medication such as valdecoxib, penicillins, barbiturates, sulfas, and lamotrigine, could cause a severe and life-threatening condition that affects the skin by causing blisters to form that could cover more than 30% of the body. These allergic reactions are called erythema multiforme (known in extreme cases as Stevens-Johnson syndrome) or toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome (TENS).