What it means
A pocket of fluid between layers of skin. Friction, burns, cold injury, infections such as chickenpox and herpes, allergic reactions and some skin diseases can cause blisters. The medical word for a small one (under 1 cm) is vesicle; for a larger one, bulla. A blister filled with pus is a pustulePUS-choolA small raised bump on the skin filled with pus.Full entry .
For the nurse
Leave intact blisters closed when possible, as the skin over them protects against infection, and cover them. A blister on the heel or other pressure point can be a pressure injury. Widespread blistering after a new drug can be serious and must be reported at once.
At a glance
| Spanish | ampolla |
|---|---|
| Also written | blisters, blistering, blistered |
Related terms
lesion
An area of tissue that has been damaged or has changed from normal, such as a sore, wound, lump or spot.
urticaria
Hives: raised, red, itchy welts on the skin.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
A rare, severe reaction, most often to a drug, in which the skin and the moist linings of the body blister and peel away.
pustule
A small raised bump on the skin filled with pus.