Blisters, what are they and how to treat them?

The blisters are painful and painful, and can interfere with their appearance if they are easily visible to the naked eye. So, how do you deal with it exactly? Are there any drug options that can speed up the healing of this type of wound?

What are blisters?

Source: Children's Primary Care Medical Group

Blisters are a type of open wound that occurs when the skin rubs against a hard, hard surface. Including one of the types of wounds most often experienced by many people, this wound is a superficial wound which means that it only affects the epidermis layer.

The structure of the human skin consists of three layers, namely the epidermis layer as the outermost layer that can be seen by the eye, the dermis layer as the middle layer, and the hypodermis layer or subcutaneous tissue as the innermost layer of the skin, where fat and sweat glands are found.

The skin plays an important role in protecting the body from substances from the surrounding environment such as germs, bacteria, heat, and physical hazards. However, when rubbed against the rough surface, the epidermal layer of the skin will be eroded and eventually become blisters.

Usually blisters don't cause much bleeding and are light in nature, so you can treat them yourself at home. The symptoms that will be felt when experiencing this wound may only be a feeling of warmth and burning on the affected skin.

Depending on whether you have thick or thin skin, the severity of the blisters varies from person to person. Blisters can occur anywhere on the skin that is subjected to friction, but more commonly on the skin close to the bone such as the hand, forearm, elbow, knee, or shin

Granted, most abrasions won't leave a mark. However, if the blister affects a larger area of ​​the skin, it may cause a keloid-like discoloration mark.

What causes blisters?

Blisters start as small irritations on the skin and develop into scratches. The scratches will get bigger and go deeper into the skin layers. This layer of skin is made up of living tissue, capillaries, nerve endings, and others. If this layer is damaged, your skin will feel sore.

Many things can cause blisters to appear. Generally, abrasions occur when someone is scratched during an accident such as falling from a bicycle or motorcycle.

In addition, people who frequently exercise cycling or running may get blisters on the groin due to friction between the damp, sweaty skin and clothes due to repetitive movements.

Other causes include:

• obesity,
• breastfeeding can cause blisters on the nipples,
• use of diapers in babies,
• wear clothes that are too tight when the air and the weather is hot and humid, as well
• scratching the nail too hard against the skin.

First aid and care for blisters

Indeed, compared to other types of wounds, handling for abrasions is easier and does not require special attention. However, you shouldn't ignore it, as there is still a risk of the wound getting worse and becoming infected.

Therefore, if this happens to you, immediately do the following.

• Clean the scuffed area under a cool stream of water. Don't forget to wash your hands before doing this step.
• Gently rub debris on the wound. Once clean, dry the wound using a clean cloth.
• Apply it petroleum jelly thin layer over the wound to keep the surface moist and prevent scar formation.
• Cover it with a bandage to protect the wound from dirt. If the blister is only light friction, leave it open.

Remember, if the wound is covered with a bandage, you should replace it regularly at least once a day or when the bandage feels wet or dirty. Also watch for signs of wounds.

If the area is sore, swollen, crusty, or bleeding, ask your doctor to prescribe an ointment. Usually, the doctor will give you an antibiotic ointment such as bacitracin.

During the wound healing process, you should do not do the things below.

• Use iodine or hydrogen peroxide as an abrasive to clean the skin. Use soap and water only.
• Bathing using water that is too hot and soaps that contain lots of chemicals.
• Dry the skin by rubbing the towel.
• Compress the skin with ice water to reduce pain.
• Scratching the injured skin area.

Keep the injured skin untouched and allow time for the skin to heal before becoming active again. Continued friction will only make the condition worse and this can lead to infection.

Keep in mind, the erosion of the epidermal layer in abrasions makes you more susceptible to bacteria such as Clostridium tetani which can cause tetanus.

Therefore, if the blisters are severe, you should also consult with your doctor about whether or not a tetanus injection is needed.

What to do when the wound starts to heal

After a few days or weeks, the blister will form a scab. This scab functions as a wound protector from dirt and germs as new skin grows. After this step, a bandage may not be needed.

However, the healing process can sometimes cause itching, so you may unconsciously scratch it.

Unfortunately, you shouldn't do this, especially if you intend to peel the scab off. Because, this action will actually interfere with the wound healing process. Therefore, it's a good idea to ignore the itching of the wound as much as possible.

After the wound has healed, don't forget to use sunscreen when traveling. Using sunscreen with SPF 30 will help fade brown scars faster.