Blood blisters are harmless pockets of fluid that normally form in the upper layers of the skin. According to Healthline, a blood blister is usually red when it first appears, but may turn purple or black over a period of time.
The blister can form in various parts of the body, including the mouth area, hands, feet, joints and near bony areas like the toes and heels.
In severe cases, the different types of blister namely; heat, blood and friction blister sores can potentially develop into serious medical issues leading to infection, ulceration and even cancer.
What Causes Blood Blisters To Appear?
The blood, pus, serum or plasma filled blister is a common occurrence in people of all ages.
According to Medical News Today, blood blister may develop as a result of burning, friction, infection, contact dermatitis, exposure to chemicals and frostbite. Friction arising from repeat activity can cause a blister to appear on the hands and feet.
Contact dermatitis often develops out of exposure to cosmetics, detergents, chemical warfare gasses and insect bites among other agents.
Common medical conditions known to cause blister include Cold Sores, Eczema, Bullous Pemphigoid, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, Herpes, Stomatitis, Shingles and Chicken Pox.
Chicken Pox is a highly contagious disease that is often accompanied by high fever, sore throat and loss of appetite. People with Chicken Pox may also develop red, itchy blister all over the body.
Stomatitis usually forms inside the mouth cavity as a result of conditions like Herpes Simplex 1. The other diseases that may cause blood blister include: Erysipelas and Impetigo.
How Blister Affects Different Parts Of The Body?
The blister that forms on the mouth can be very discomforting and unsightly.
According to Medical News Today (2), blood blister in mouth are usually caused by accidental injuries. The other causes of oral blood blister include allergic reaction, stress, braces, accidental biting and medical disorders such as angina bullosa hemorrhagica (ABH).
Oral blood blister emanating from angina bullosa hemorrhagica usually develop spontaneously and are not always harmful. However, you are highly advised to see the doctor if the blood blister in mouth has the following characteristics:
- Do not heal within the normal timeframe
- Grows too big for comfort
- Recurs every often
- Prevents or makes it difficult to eat, drink or speak
The appearance of blood blisters on scrotum is never an easy thing to deal with due to the accompanying pain, irritation and embarrassment.
An overview published by a medical resource, indicates that blood blisters on scrotum can develop as a result of Genital Herpes, Varicocele, Benign Prostatic enlargement and Venous Hypertension.
Genital Herpes is a highly contagious Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) caused by Herpes Simplex Type I and Type II viruses. Since the blister usually takes time to heal, it is important to have a physical examination performed by a doctor.
Venous hypertension appears when the veins in extremities develop high blood pressure. The pressure causes blood to leak downwards as a result of gravity. This condition is medically referred to as venous insufficiency.
Varicocele, on its part, is the swelling or enlargement of the vein. The condition is common in men, and is usually comes with symptoms such as scrotal swelling, recurring pain, a lump in either of the testicles and twisted veins in the scrotum.
If the problem of blood blister on lip persists for more than one week; results in fever or makes it difficult to swallow, you should consider talking to a medical professional for appropriate care.
The risk of developing blood blister in mouth and lip can be minimized, by avoiding spicy foods and removing dentures to give the sore ample time to heal. The feet and toes can easily develop blister when you consistently do activities like walking, running or hiking.
Wearing bad shoes or socks can also place undue pressure or friction on the feet, thereby causing blood blister on toe to develop.
According to Your Foot Docs foot care center, you can overcome blood blister on toe by wearing breathable shoes designed to hold the toes tightly. Flip flops are another great option to consider.
If you need to go to work, have something more formal like a comfortable pair of sneakers. If your feet regularly accumulate moisture after workout routine, consider using moisture wicking socks or medically approved foot powder to prevent the development of blister.
Applying moisturizing skin cream can also help keep the foot safer when jogging or running.
Should You Pop A Blood Blister?
Studies indicate that a blister, especially that caused by friction and minor burns can easily be cleared out without seeking medical intervention. According to Web MD, a blister should only be punctured if they are large, painful and a source of irritation.
Caution should be taken because fluid filled blisters can also promote healing and offer a protective covering to the underlying tissue. If you decide to pop up blood blister, you need to observe the following:
- Use sterilized needle. This can be done by heating the tip of the needle and rinsing it in alcohol
- Wash the blister area and your hands before performing the procedure
- Avoid peeling off the broken blister in order to protect the underlying skin tissue
- Watch for signs of infection such as pus drainage, warmth and redness in order take appropriate measures
- Apply recommended cream or ointment on the affected area as needed
How Long Do Blood Blisters Last?
Even with the pain and discomfort normally associated with blood blister sores, the sores can be left to heal in a space of one to two weeks. The healing time will typically depend on factors like underlying causes, scale of infection, the body’s level of immunity and speed and type of treatment or intervention.
Blood Blister Treatment
Since blister sores are generally non-life threatening, treatment should only be undertaken to relieve pain and discomfort.
According to the UK NHS, you can take care of a blister by avoiding the temptation to burst or peel the skin around the blister. You should also avoid using equipment’s that may worsen the situation.
In case the blister is drained, make sure the affected area is covered with appropriate dressing such as hydrocolloid material or plaster.
If the blister warrants medical attention, the doctor will ask you a few questions before performing a simple examination.
In case the blister is unexplained or turns chronic, the doctor may extend the scope of diagnosis to include conditions like skin cancer and treatment recommendations such as biopsy.
On the overall, treatment for blister sore is fairly simple. Blood blisters on finger and toe can be treated using the following steps:
- Lift the limb and apply ice on the affected area
- Wrap the blister with a aloes material to avoid friction
- Wear open footwear and avoid placing undue pressure on the affected foot
- A busted blister should be cleaned and covered
- Wear gloves when working with tools or when lifting heavy objects
- To reduce the risk factors causing blood blister on finger and toe, keep your feet and fingers dry at all times.
If the blisters begin to cause excruciating pain, overbearing warmth or redness, it is necessary to seek professional medical assistance. The doctor will check for signs of infection and provide appropriate treatment and advice.
Blood blister treatment can also be addressed using natural remedies that are readily available. According to Healthline, the most popular options include: Tea Tree Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Oregano Oil, Dab Licorice extract and Lemon Balm.
It is important to note that most essential oils and topical treatments may cause skin irritation and other forms of discomfort. For this reason, it is highly advisable to take a patch test before using the remedies.
The control process involves diluting essential oil and using a clean cotton swab for application. A lemon balm cream should be diluted on a cotton ball before it’s applied on the affected area of the skin.
Just like the cream, the lemon balm tea can also be taken to achieve similar results. Zinc therapy has been shown to be helpful in healing wounds and remedying the effects of fever.
Research has shown that Oregano oil has the ability to inhibit various viruses, including Herpes. If you have a blister, you can dilute the Oregano oil on a cotton ball and apply gently on the affected area.
The oil should be applied several times a day until the blister is completely healed. A growing number of people have turned to Dab licorice extract to treat cold sores.
Although laboratory studies are ongoing, Dab licorice extract has been shown to be effective in healing sores and other skin blemishes. The extract should also be diluted on a cotton swab before application.
The Tea Tree oil is an effective anti-viral treatment that can be used to speed the healing process and prevent the formation of plaque. Applying Tea tree oil on a blister should be done several times a day to obtain positive results.
Pregnant and nursing women, along with children and older adults should seek expert opinion before using the natural remedies. As a safety precaution, the remedies should be used in small measures to gauge their effects on the skin and body.
Natural remedies can be taken as oral supplements or with OTC medications. To learn more on how to treat a blood blister using remedies and their side effects, take time to read the labels on the remedies and consult a medical professional before usage.
Topical treatments for essential enzymes are available in various online and on-ground stores spread across the US. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor may also recommend several prescription medications in the form of cream, pills or injections to treat fever blisters.
Antiviral drugs are known to speed the healing process with little or no side effects. Some of the most popular prescription drugs with antiviral properties include: Penciclovir, Valacyclovir and Acyclovir.