Blisters in Children and How to Treat Them

Blisters in children are more common than you might think. They can appear from a burn, accident, chafing or being in the sun without protection.

It’s important to know how to help your children’s wounds heal from different accidents and injuries. Blisters in children are more common than you might think. In this article, we’ll tell you how to treat them.

How blisters form

Basically, blisters are a bubble of skin with or without liquid inside that form from burns, friction, allergies, or vaccines. They can be different sizes, and could be a few millimeters to several inches.

They aren’t usually dangerous, but they’re quite annoying, especially on hands or feet. Usually, blisters have pus inside that acts as a moisturizer and protector of the new skin that’s forming underneath.

The main problem is when they burst. Then, they can become infected when they come in contact with dirt, plants, pets, etc.

Why do blisters appear? There are many reasons, but some are more common than others. For example, wearing new shoes that rub against the heels or toes, touching a very hot surface, or being in the sun without protection.

Sometimes, they can also form as a result of eczema or touching poisonous plants like ivy or sumac. In addition, they can form from certain diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, herpes simplex, chicken pox, and other skin infections.

What to do when your child gets blisters

Beyond the reason why blisters appear, you must be very careful so they don’t break and cause pain.

A good way to protect it is by wearing a bandage. That way, it won’t get hit or become infected from pathogens. This isn’t always easy for children because they’ll want to take it off.

However, it’s important for blisters not to get dirty. If you put a gauze on it or something similar, remember to change it every hour, before bathing or at bedtime.

Make sure to never pop blisters. Then, the pus will drain and won’t protect the new skin that’s forming underneath.

On the other hand, if the blister is more than 3 inches large, consult your doctor. In addition, if the liquid is cloudy or a strange pus, you should also ask your doctor how to treat it.

Sometimes,  doctors will open the blister with a scalpel and apply an antibiotic or healing cream. Fortunately, this process isn’t painful. In addition, keep the area bandaged and avoid getting dirt in it. That way, it won’t get infected.

How to prevent blisters in children

To prevent blisters, be very careful with children. Do everything possible to prevent accidents from happening. For example, don’t leave the iron on unattended. In addition, don’t place containers with boiling water close to the edge of the countertop.

Kids are very curious and have no sense of danger. Therefore, they’ll touch everything that catches their attention without knowing it’s hot and can hurt them.

On the other hand, if your child has new shoes, give him some light socks so they don’t chafe his heels. It’s even a good idea to put bandages on the areas that are prone to blisters.

Also, when you go on vacation, make sure to apply sunscreen of at least 50 SPF. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, even on cloudy days or if you haven’t gone to the beach. The same applies for pool days, on vacation or on summer walks in the park.

It’s true that you can’t prevent 100% of blisters, but with these tips, you can reduce them a lot. Don’t forget to always have an antibiotic and moisturizing cream with you in case of an accident!