What is a blister?
In principle, such an injury is not fatal, but it is unpleasant and painful. It is characterized by the appearance of a cavity-free formation on the leg or arm, which occurs due to swelling and inflammation of the upper layer of the epidermis. Blisters on the feet usually disappear after some time.
The formation can have different shapes and sizes. As for the symptoms of this pathology, they are very simple. When a blister appears, a person feels burning, itching and pain. The signs are especially obvious when the formation is touched. However, those blisters that may appear as a result of a burn cannot be considered blisters.
Infectious rash and methods of its treatment
The rash can be caused by exposure to bacteria or viruses. They are often caused by non-compliance with hygiene rules. Thus, simply neglecting the need to wash your hands can lead to an infection getting inside through wounds on your hands, which will subsequently manifest itself not only in this place, but throughout the body.
Follicular tonsillitis provokes the appearance of blisters on the palate and tonsils, and is accompanied by high fever and sore throat. It must be treated by a specialist; the disease is quite dangerous and has many complications.
Erysipelas is characterized by the appearance of blisters, swelling and redness of the affected area. Occurs after infection occurs through wounds on the body. If left untreated, it will gradually spread. It is possible to get rid of the disease only if all treatment conditions are met, including treatment of clothing.
Chickenpox occurs in children quite often, since it is spread by contact; children usually “bring it” from kindergarten. The disease is accompanied by the appearance of dense papules without contents and vesicles, after the bursting of which a crust and spots form. It can spread throughout the body, most often found in areas with thin skin: palms, soles.
It is recommended to isolate the child from people who have not had this infection; he is prescribed disinfectants for the external treatment of blisters (brilliant), as well as antipyretic and antiviral agents. In severe cases of the disease, hospitalization is possible.
Development of chickenpox
Another very common disease is herpes (caused by the same virus as chicken pox), it can occur in several forms:
- herpes simplex (on the mucous membrane of the lips);
- herpes zoster (at the location of the distribution of nerve fibers: on the hands, in the intercostal space, on the external auditory canal, under the eye, and so on);
- genital herpes.
Herpes
Infection occurs more often through the fault of parents who use personal hygiene items for the child, especially during the period of exacerbation of the disease, when even a kiss can lead to the transmission of infection.
Depending on the variety, blisters appear on different parts of the baby’s body, which are painful when touched, and are sometimes accompanied by fever and general weakness of the body.
Treatment consists of taking antiviral drugs and applying them externally:
- Oxolinic ointment;
- Acyclovir;
- Zovirax;
- Isoprinosine;
- Arbidol;
- Galavit;
- Anaferon and others.
In addition, means are used to improve the child’s immunity, such as vitamin complexes and bifidobacterial agents.
The main way to prevent the appearance of bubbles is to teach the child the rules of hygiene and compliance with them by the parents themselves.
Reasons for the problem
Basically, they are different. However, most often blisters on the feet are observed due to friction of the skin on shoes or other objects (they can appear on the hands of athletes who practice on the uneven bars). They can also be the result of an insect bite or an allergic reaction to an irritant.
In other words, we can say that a blister is a natural protective reaction of our skin to too strong a mechanical impact. This cannot be called an allergy, since this problem can occur in absolutely anyone.
Types of rashes and locations on the child’s body
The rash occurs due to various reasons. It occurs with allergic reactions, infectious diseases, improper skin care, poisoning of various etiologies, insect bites, penetration of parasites into the body, mechanical stress, fungal infections, allergies. Depending on the cause of occurrence, there are different types of rashes on the body:
- spots of red, pink or white;
- pimples with clear liquid inside;
- pus-filled blisters or pustules;
- subcutaneous bumps;
- dry flaky spots;
- small bumps or papules;
- blue or red stars resembling subcutaneous hemorrhages.
Acne can be accompanied by itching, flaking and inflammation. In some cases, the skin at the site of the rash begins to crack and peel. In babies, pimples and blisters appear on the legs, arms, fingers, back, stomach, neck, face, butt (we recommend reading: why do white pimples appear on a child’s hands?). The location of the rash depends on the cause that caused it and the severity of the disease.
Herpes types 1 and 2
- Nature of the rash: individual watery pimples or grouped rash. At the beginning of the disease they are filled with clear liquid, after 1-2 days they are filled with pus. They open spontaneously, and in their place long-term non-healing wounds and crusts form. Pimples are painful and itchy.
- Location: most often in the mouth, genitals and lips, but can affect other areas.
- Additional symptoms: fever, headache, inflammation of the lymph nodes, general malaise.
- Treatment: antiviral drugs, antihistamines and antipyretics.
Shingles
- The nature of the rash: a group of bubbles with transparent contents, which become cloudy on the 3-4th day. Accompanied by severe burning and pain in the affected areas. Crusts form within 2-3 weeks.
- Localization: nerve nodes on the face and head, back, back of the head, shoulders, neck, arms and legs.
- Additional symptoms: headache, temperature up to 39 degrees, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammation of the lymph nodes, weakness.
- Treatment: antiviral drugs, antihistamines and antipyretics.
Chicken pox
- Character of the rash: small blisters filled with light liquid. They itch a lot. They burst quickly and a small wound appears in their place.
- Localization: throughout the body.
- Additional symptoms: fever, rarely – cough.
- Treatment: the blisters are treated with an antiseptic and antiallergic medications are prescribed.
Streptoderma
- Nature of the rash: purulent spots or blisters up to 10 centimeters. The rash causes burning and itching.
- Localization: first on the face, then spread throughout the body.
- Additional symptoms: intoxication of the body, temperature up to 38-39 degrees, lymphadenitis.
- Treatment: antibacterial ointments, antibiotics, antipyretic drugs, hypoallergenic diet, treatment of the rash with brilliant green, boric alcohol.
Enterovirus
- Nature of the rash: blistering rash with clear liquid.
- Localization: on different parts of the body and mucous membranes.
- Additional symptoms: headache, nausea, vomiting, fever.
- Treatment: immunomodulators, antibiotics, drugs aimed at eliminating symptoms.
Pemphigus
- Character of the rash: transparent watery blisters with a red rim.
- Localization: at the beginning of the disease - in the oral cavity, then - arms, legs, abdomen.
- Additional symptoms: weakness, elevated body temperature.
- Treatment: antiviral drugs, glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines, antipyretic drugs.
Felinosis
- Character of the rash: blisters with a small crust. Appear at the site of infection.
- Localization: at the site of cat scratches.
- Additional symptoms: inflammation of the lymph nodes, intoxication of the body.
- Treatment: anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents, antiallergic drugs.
Watery pimples can be caused by parasite infestation. The blistering rash on the stomach, feet and between the fingers and toes is caused by the scabies mite. The rash is very itchy, especially at night. The blisters turn into pink spots a few days after they appear. The disease is treated with external agents (for example, benzyl benzoate ointment) and antihistamines.
In what cases should you consult a doctor?
If you have blisters on your feet, then this is not a reason to panic. However, there are cases when consultation with a dermatologist is necessary. It is worth visiting a doctor if you experience:
- severe pain, swelling of the affected area;
- fever and fever;
- suppuration in the area of the blister;
- enlarged lymph nodes.
All these signs indicate the addition of an infection. If you have blisters on your toes, improper treatment can lead to headaches and worsening your general condition. Naturally, in this case, you must consult a doctor so as not to worsen your situation. The fact is that the frequent appearance of blisters may indicate an autoimmune disease. And this is already a serious wake-up call.
Causes
Sunburn, frostbite, calluses, insect bites, contact with aggressive chemicals - any of these negative effects provoke blisters on the child’s skin. Let's consider the cases.
Rashes caused by infectious diseases
Blisters on a child's skin may indicate the development of an infectious disease. However, the pathology is necessarily accompanied by other symptoms and depends on the type of pathogen. Consequently, a rash of infectious origin may appear as single blisters or grouped blisters. The type of disease is determined by the appearance of pimples and the location of their appearance.
Herpes virus grades 1, 2 and 3
Small watery blisters on a child’s skin occur when infected with the herpes virus. These include: chickenpox (stage 2 virus) and colds, watery rashes on the lips or nose (stage 1 virus). First of all, blisters filled with clear liquid form, and after 2-3 days they become purulent. However, when the blisters break spontaneously, sores appear in their place. Because of this, the disease is accompanied by additional symptoms:
- Hyperthermia, as a result of which the child’s body temperature rises and a headache;
- An inflammatory process occurring in the lymphatic system;
- Malaise, loss of strength;
- Painful sensation at the site of the appearance of blisters with severe itching.
Bubbles appear first on the face, then affect the upper limbs, body, and legs. In addition, they occur on the scalp and genitals.
The virus of stage 3 provokes the appearance of herpes zoster. It occurs as a result of chickenpox in the womb or in early childhood, which is why it is less common in older children. However, relapses occur due to a weakened immune system.
Symptoms of herpes zoster in children:
- Painful sensation in the affected area of the body. The localization of pain depends on the location of the damaged nerve, so it often occurs in the area of the lateral chest, back, neck, and head. Moreover, the pain can be increasing, paroxysmal, throbbing, aching, causing the child to refuse food and constantly cry;
- Small blisters appear on the child’s skin on the 4th day after feeling pain. The rash is linear and does not intersect with other areas;
- Body temperature 38.5-39.0 °C;
- The lymph nodes in the neck and groin area are enlarged.
The herpetic rash goes away in 30-45 days, but the pain persists for another 2 weeks.
Enterovirus
The rash looks like purulent spots or blisters, the diameter of which does not exceed 10 mm. Watery rashes appear on the face, then affect the body and limbs.
What types of blisters are there?
It should be noted that this problem can be classified. For example, blisters on the toes can vary.
- Reds. They usually appear during an allergic reaction to an irritant, called hives. They usually go away on their own without any treatment within a few hours.
- Mermen. They usually appear after wearing tight shoes that rub the skin too much. The inside is a transparent bubble filled with serum. It is the part of the blood that does not contain red blood cells. Most often, such blisters on the toes are a protection against deep damage to the epidermis.
- White. Most often they appear due to an allergic reaction or excessive work of the sebaceous glands. They can be localized anywhere.
What blisters may indicate
Watery blisters that appear on the feet can have different origins, differ in size, symptoms, location, be a manifestation of a disease or be a consequence of an external factor.
Vesicles with transparent or translucent exudate inside have signs of inflammation, can itch, burn, be accompanied by pain on palpation, be dense or easily wounded, be supplemented with elements of a rash, and manifest as multiple or single rashes. Depends on the reason why they appeared. There are two ways for blisters to appear on the feet:
- An allergic reaction on the feet can develop due to the influence of various irritants. This could be food, medicine, cosmetics, socks or shoes. Watery allergy rashes are accompanied by redness and itching;
- Hyperhidrosis manifests itself in increased sweating of the feet. Due to the constant moisture of the skin, small pimples with liquid inside appear on the surface. The causes of pathology in adults are different: from wearing shoes out of season to the presence of a malignant tumor in the body. In children, the phenomenon is called miliaria. It appears when caring parents “wrap up” the child too much. The rash on the sole with hyperhidrosis comes in three types: red, papular and crystalline. The latter has the appearance of white or colorless small pimples, which, when bursting, become prone to suppuration. Miliaria rubra appears in the form of blisters up to 2 mm and is accompanied by itching. The papular type of hyperhidrosis is characterized by severe itching, burning, dry flaky skin;
- Diabetes mellitus can lead to a lot of complications, including blisters on the toes and soles, which are called diabetic pemphigus. The problem is expressed in the formation of blisters (bulls) with liquid, similar to burns. The pathology is typical for people with type 3-4 disease, diabetic neuropathy. The bullae do not cause pain and do not require treatment other than blood sugar control;
- Vitamin deficiency is a lack of vitamins in the body. The rashes are seasonal and appear in the winter-spring period;
- Eczema affects the skin in various parts of the body and is characterized by many varieties. Tilotic (callous-like) and dyshidrotic types of skin disease are localized on the feet. With callous eczema, keratinization is observed on the soles and heels, and in the dyshidrotic form, itchy vesicles may appear on the feet and toes. They are located deep under the skin. Blister rashes measure 5-7 mm and are filled with liquid;
- Chickenpox is a viral disease, one of the symptoms of which is the appearance of water pimples on the skin, accompanied by pain and itching. Vesicles with chickenpox tend to burst and transform into ulcers. If an infection joins the sores, there is a risk of complications in which the wounds fill with pus and leave a deep mark after healing. The soles of the feet are rarely affected by this viral infection, but the skin between the toes and on the back of the feet develops a rash;
- Erysipelas is an infectious disease that has several varieties. The formation of blisters is characterized by the erythematous-bullous and bullous-hemorrhagic form of the disease. The cause of foot damage is often heel cracks, which are open gates for the penetration of streptococcus, which is the causative agent of the pathology;
- The fungal infection may affect the nails or spread to the foot. There are three forms of mycosis: squamous, interdigital and vesicular. In the first type, blisters appear; after they burst, dense keratinization is formed. The second type of infection is characterized by the appearance of small, weeping blisters between the fingers, gradually affecting all folds from the little finger to the thumb. In the vesicular form, the fungus penetrates the skin and dropsy appears. It becomes difficult to step on the sole without damaging the vesicles, and as a result of a violation of their integrity, ulcers form;
- Scabies is a contagious skin disease. The cause is the scabies mite. The parasite makes subcutaneous passages, causing the formation of tubercles and purulent pimples. In addition to other parts of the body, the mite is localized on the lateral and inner areas of the feet;
- viral pemphigus is an infectious disease that affects the skin and mucous membranes. Blisters with a red rim are filled with transparent exudate, they hurt and itch. Once they burst, they form an ulcer.
First aid for the formation of a blister and features of wound treatment in children
In order to eliminate the first symptoms of blisters, which cause a lot of pain and discomfort, you need to provide yourself with first aid. First you need to clean the affected part of the skin from dust. That is, blisters on the hands and feet should be washed thoroughly. In addition, the affected area should be protected from subsequent contact with the irritating surface. That is, if you are putting on shoes, you must first put on a sock and cover the blister with an adhesive plaster.
If one layer of adhesive is not enough, apply another one. Do not pop the blister, as this can cause infection in the wound. However, if it is very large and causing a lot of discomfort, then you can drain the fluid from it using a sterile needle. However, it is better not to cut off the skin that remains, as it is a protective layer. It will take about 14 days for the blister to completely disappear.
If you notice that the rubbed area has begun to fester or your temperature has risen, then you should definitely consult a doctor, as an infection has entered the body that can cause serious complications.
Now let's look at the question of what to do if your baby rubs his leg or arm. If blisters appear on a child’s legs, first of all, you should eliminate the risk of infection of the wound, as well as relieve pain. To do this, you can use special healing ointments: Panthenol, Boro Plus and others. Clean the affected area very often with warm water and antibacterial soap.
What does herpes on the head look like?
Herpes on the scalp in the hair (photo 1) is felt by patients as an unpleasant feeling of itching and tingling on the scalp. The initial stage of herpes on the head does not yet produce blisters - the skin only feels irritated, with increased sensitivity. Patients note that it is painful to touch the head, especially if herpes appears on the forehead, the skin is hot to the touch and in a certain place it hurts a lot. Combing brings tangible pain when scratching.
Herpes on the scalp appears after some time in the form of a herpetic rash. Small swellings can be seen in the hair and on the reddened skin area. Herpes on the head can be located either on the skin or completely cover the hair - it seems to be sticking out of a bubble. Over time, the bubbles begin to enlarge and swell, the liquid in them looks light and transparent.
The area around the rash is inflamed and may have a red border. Herpes on the scalp in men with alopecia can spread to the entire area where there is no hair. When the blisters mature, the symptoms of herpes on the head regress quite quickly - the blisters burst, and then dry up and the skin heals. Herpes scalp goes away on average in five to seven days.
What to do if you feel itching at the site of the lesion?
If you feel that the blisters on your legs are itching, this means that you have an allergic reaction to some irritant or that the wound has become infected. To eliminate itching, you will have to take antihistamines. The best in this case are Telfast and Claritin.
Itching can also appear in other cases, for example, during hypothermia. However, in this case it is necessary to fight using the same method. That is, in order for the affected area to stop itching, you need to put it in cool water or put a compress on it. In this case, histamine comes out due to vasoconstriction.
Features of wound treatment
If blisters appear on your leg, they need to be treated properly. To do this, you can use both traditional and folk methods. For example, a salt water bath helps. To do this, you need to dissolve a tablespoon of salt in a liter of water. Such procedures should be taken daily.
For quick wound healing, use aloe leaves. Before using the sheet, you need to cleanse your skin. Aloe should be glued with a patch overnight. To disinfect the wound, use an infusion of chamomile or oak bark. To prepare the solution, steam 2 tablespoons of raw material with 500 ml of boiled water. After the product has infused, you can wash the affected area, take baths or apply compresses.
Preventive measures
If blisters appear on your leg, they must be treated. However, it is better to prevent their occurrence. First of all, choose shoes that are comfortable, not tight or too hard. You should also break it in before you plan to wear it on a long trip.
You should not wear clothes that make your feet wet. This only promotes chafing. If your skin is too sensitive and it easily rubs, then you need to use special fatty creams that create a protective film on the surface of the epidermis.
If you have delicate hands, but you like to work in the country, then try to wear protective gloves. Naturally, it is necessary to use creams that restore the top layer of skin.
In principle, these are all the features of the occurrence and elimination of blisters. The main thing is to prevent infection of the wound. If there are complications, it is better to consult a doctor. Be healthy!