ALTERNATIVE THERAPRIES SERIES :30 BLISTERS

Kay Kay Healthcare Ltd.

BLISTERS


SYMPTOMS

• One or more bubbles or skin filled with clear fluid, ranging from pinpoint size to more than one half inch in diameter. Depending on the cause, blistering may be accompanied by pain, inflammation, and itching.

WHAT IS BLISTERS

Most blister form as a reaction to irritation or other damage to the skin from an external source, although some can result from a disease or other ailment. A single blister is usually the result of friction or minor burn, typically on the hands, feet, or other exposed areas. Clusters of blisters may result from extensive burn, contact dermatitis, insect bites, viral infections, drug or chemical reactions, or autoimmune disorders.

CAUSES

Friction: blister can be cause by excessive rubbing of exposed skin, such as a tool handle against the hand or new pair of shoes against the ankle. Unlike corns and calluses, which develop from prolong rubbing, friction blister come from brief, intense contact.

Burns: flames, steam, or contact with a hot surface can raise blister, as can excessive sunburn or exposure to other types of radiation.

Contact dermatitis: skin may blister when it comes in contact with chemical irritants, cosmetics, and many plant and animal toxins.

Drug reaction: many people develop blister as reaction to taking certain oral and topical drugs. The most common agents are penicillins and the ACE inhibitor captopril. Before prescribing any new drugs, a doctor should ask you about any drug reaction you may have had in the past.

Autoimmune disorders: of the various autoimmune disorders known to cause blistering, three are most prevalent. Pemphigus vulgaris, a potentially fatal skin disorder, causes blister in the mouth that sometimes spread to the head and other part of the body; the painful blister become raw and crusted before bursting. Bullous pemphigoid causes less severe eruption that heal faster and are not life threatening; this condition is seen chiefly in the elderly. Dermatitis herpetiformis causes small, itchy blister; it is a chronic condition that usually starts in early adulthood.

Infection: blister are common symptoms of many infectious illnesses, including chickenpox, cold sores, herpes simplex, shingles, and impetigo.

TREATMENT

Most blisters caused by friction or minor burns do not requires a doctor care. New skin forms underneath the affected area and the fluid is simply absorbed. Soothe ordinary friction blisters with vitamin E ointment or an aloe based cream. Do not puncture a blister unless it is large, painful, or likely to be further irritated. If you have to pop it, use a sterilized needle or razor blade; put the point or edged in a flame until it is red hot, or rinse it in alcohol. Wash the area thoroughly, then make a small hole and gently squeeze out the clear fluid. A dab of hydrogen peroxide can help protect against infection. If the fluid is white or yellow, the blister is infected and needs medical attention. Do not remove the skin over a broken blister; the new skin underneath needs this protective cover. For blister caused by chemical contact, disease, or an autoimmune disorder see a doctor.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

While many blister heal on their own, a few types require special care. Blistering cause by toxic agents or disease must be treated not only to relieve immediate discomfort but also to address the underlying causes. Some cases of pemphigus, for example, can be treated with oral corticosteroids on an outpatient basis; other require both corticosteroids and antibiotics under hospital supervision.

ALTERNATIVE CHOICES

If your blister is purely pressure or burn related, various ointments and rinses can be effective in relieving minor discomfort. To make good use of other therapies, you must first determining the underlying cause of the blistering.

HERBAL THERAPIES

Two drops of Chamomile (matricaria recutita) oil in half a cup of water makes an excellent antiseptic to be use under a protective dressing. Blister caused by herpes simplex respond to Licorice
(Glycyrrhiza Uralensis) ointment.

HOMEOPATHY

Calendula ointment is a soothing, antiseptic dressing for all types of blister. Cantharis (12x) taken three or four times a day may help relieve the pain of a burn. Rhus toxicodendron (12x) taken three or four times a day may relieve blistering from contact dermatitis and cold sores.

AT HOME REMEDIES

• If you have blister from friction or a minor burn, apply petroleum jelly to keep the skin soft. An ordinary adhesive bandage will keep a small blister protected; cover a large blister with a gauze pad and adhesive tape.

• When a blister breaks, wash the area with soap and water, then apply a mild antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide. Cover with a bandaged during the day to protect the new skin from friction and dirt. You can remove the bandaged at night and exposed the new skin to air so it hardens faster.

• If your skin is blistered by chemical contact, flush it immediately with plenty of water or saline solution. If pain or itching persist, or if large blister develop, call a doctor.

• Forget the cold folk remedy about putting butter on burns and vinegar on blister; both can aggravate the skin and may actually cause infection.

PREVENTION

• Jobs you do only occasionally, such as shoveling snow or raking leaves, are great for raising a blister or two; be sure to wear work gloves.

• Break in new shoes gradually, and put petroleum jelly or an adhesive bandaged on areas that take the rub before the blister happens.

• Wear socks with heels, not tube socks, which bunch up and cause blister. Acrylic and other synthetic fiber socks are good low friction choices, but because they don’t breathe as well as natural fibers, you should wash and dry your feet after wearing them to prevent athlete’s foot.