A blood blister is a type of blister that forms when subdermal tissues and blood vessels are damaged without piercing the skin. It consists of a pool of lymph, blood and other bodily fluids trapped beneath the skin. If punctured, it suppurates a dark fluid. Sometimes the fluids are cut off from the rest of the body and dry up, leaving behind dead cell material inside the blister with a texture like putty. Some blood blisters can be extremely painful due to bruising where the blister occurred.
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Common areas that suffer from blood blisters include the hands and feet.
When the cause is abrasion, moleskin can be used to prevent blood blisters from forming. Blood blisters are commonly caused by accidents in which the skin is pinched by a tool, mechanism, or heavy weight without protective gear. The only prevention in these situations is to use tools carefully and wear appropriate protective gear. Blood blisters also may occur with constant rubbing back and forth, or as a result of frostbite, or can be caused by small explosions such as small fireworks accidentally detonating in a user's hands.
There are several methods of healing blood blisters. These include:
In some cases, it is advisable to visit a doctor to ensure that the blood blister is not a symptom of a more dangerous condition.
Refrain from irritating the affected area. If necessary, apply moleskin to the blister to keep using the area, but note that it will not heal as quickly: even with a moleskin cover, the blister can worsen.
If the blister breaks, quickly rinse the area and apply an antiseptic such as neosporin or TCP. It is not recommended to break a blister because it may lead to infection.
People who are exposed to blistering but cannot interrupt their work to allow for proper treatment, such as soldiers; musicians; and sportsmen, have developed a series of approaches to treating blisters. These are inadvisable, as they are likely to slow healing or cause further damage, especially if undertaken improperly.
Small blood blisters, such as obtained when something pinches the pad of a finger, may hurt for a minute but soon subside, leaving only a painless blister. Such blisters should be left to heal naturally; there is a possibility of infection if they are punctured, and unless it is painful, the risk is likely not worth the reward.
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