Home Remedies and Herbs for Blisters

Blisters are fluid-filled sacs that form on the outer layer of skin in response to heat, rubbing, or disease. Blisters can also be called vesicles, a term used to describe small blisters, or bullae, which refers to large blisters. They’re most commonly found on your hands or feet but can appear anywhere on the skin depending on the cause.¹

What Causes Blisters?

Blisters are most commonly caused by friction, such as repeated rubbing in one spot. This happens when the top layer of skin is restricted from moving while the other layers of skin and bone do move. The tissue tears and fills with fluid. For example, wearing shoes that don’t fit right or not wearing socks with your shoes can cause friction blisters on your toes, heels, or other parts of the feet. Oftentimes, blisters can be prevented by wearing proper footwear daily and wearing gloves when performing repetitive work with the hands, such as raking leaves.^1,2

Though friction is among one of the most common blister causes, other causes include:

• Burns, including sunburn
• Frostbite
• Allergies
• Plants, such as poison ivy and poison oak
• Skin conditions, such as eczema
• Autoimmune diseases, such as pemphigus
• Skin infections, such as impetigo
• Viral infections, such as those that cause chickenpox and cold sores

Blisters Symptoms

Oftentimes, a fluid-filled sac is the only blister symptom that appears. However, every blister can differ in size, and you may have only one or you may have several blisters in the same area. In many cases, blisters are also accompanied by pain. This is especially true if the blisters are in an area where it’s difficult to avoid further friction, such as on the bottoms of the feet. If the sac ruptures, infection may form, which can lead to blister symptoms like pus, red streaks in the skin, and even fever. Because of this, it’s not recommended to drain a blister yourself. If it does rupture or you must drain the blister to reduce pain, it is best to apply ointment to prevent infection and to cover the blister with a bandage.^2,3

Blisters usually heal on their own, though you’ll want to seek medical attention if you develop a fever, if the blister becomes infected, if you have a circulatory problem or diabetes, or if you don’t know what is causing your blisters. Blister herbs may help in reducing the risk of infection, relieving pain and swelling, and speeding the healing process.¹

References

1. https://medlineplus.gov/blisters.html
2. https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/hair-skin-nails/blisters/
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-blisters/basics/art-20056691