See also: athlete's foot
The problem of blisters
A bladder is an accumulation of plasma and other bodily fluids between the layers of the epidermis or between it and the dermis.
If the repetition of these microtraumas lasts over time, the lesion can involve the basal layers of the epidermis causing the rupture of capillaries and the accumulation of blood inside the bladder.
The presence of this small liquid-filled bag also prevents bacteria from coming into contact with the wound, removing the risk of infections.
Usually blisters arise in the areas most stressed by sporting activities such as feet (runners, cyclists, footballers, etc.) and hands (skiers, basketball players, rowers, tennis players, etc.). Once a bladder is torn it becomes in effect a wound and as such causes pain. If instead the bubble is sufficiently swollen to compress the underlying skin layers, rich in nerve endings, the pain arises even before its rupture.
Prevention
Blisters are a real curse for athletes and workers. However, these bubbles can be avoided by simply adopting some preventative measures:
- all equipment used must be suitable for sports and / or work
- feet and skin should be washed regularly
- avoid inadequate shoes (too tight, too wide, too stiff or with raised internal seams)
- the stockings must be of the right size, free of holes and well adherent to the foot
- in skin areas subjected to greater stress it is good to apply moisturizing products (for example salicylic acid-based creams) by regularly rubbing the skin; in this way the skin will acquire greater softness and resistance to friction
- before training or competition, apply vaseline-based ointments to the most exposed areas to reduce friction from rubbing
- keep your feet dry as wet skin easily wears out
- all materials used must be breathable: the combination of liquid stagnation and rubbing is the ideal prerequisite for the appearance of blisters
- gradually increase your level of physical activity, leaving time for the skin to adapt
All these measures are also necessary to avoid another rather annoying pathology that is often accompanied by blisters: athlete's foot.
Care and treatment
Proper care of the bladders is necessary to prevent them from becoming infected by requiring long periods of suspension from training or physical activities that generated them.
Bladder healing is spontaneous and occurs gradually over time. As the lesion tends to heal, the serum is reabsorbed and the skin is regenerated without leaving any sign or scar.
Once the bladder has formed it is therefore good to leave it intact, protecting it with a micro-perforated plaster (the holes in the protection are very important to let the bladder breathe). Sterile protection is absolutely necessary when exposing oneself to dusty or in any case unhygienic environments.
Only the largest and most annoying bladders can be punctured at one end with a sterile needle to allow the wound to dry out, "breathe" and heal faster. The emptying of the bladder should be done by gently pressing on its walls. To avoid the danger of infections and to favor the healing of the wound it is good to disinfect it carefully using, for example, chromium mercury. In these cases the layer of skin that forms the walls of the bladder should not be removed for any reason.
Today there are special hydrocolloid plasters that allow the bladder to breathe, making the maneuver just described useless. Its perforation is however necessary when the bladder is in an area particularly stressed by the movements (for example in the sole of the foot). This prevents the bubble from bursting in situations that do not allow immediate wound disinfection.
Instead, the treatment of blood-filled blisters should be left to experienced personnel to avoid the risk of infection or further injury. The same goes for diabetics or those suffering from circulatory problems.
If a bladder wears out spontaneously it is good to clean the wound with saline solution and treat it as such (application of a patch or non-adhesive gauze). For the same reason, especially if the swelling of the bladder suggests an imminent break, it is good to wash the affected part with soap and water. However, care must be taken not to leave the bladders soaking in water too long, as maceration of the skin favors breakage
Accumulation of pus in the wound or intense redness of the skin associated with local hyperthermia can be signs of an infection. In the presence of these symptoms it is advisable to consult a doctor for a check-up.
