Blood blisters

Blood blisters are a type of blister that is filled with blood rather than the white or transparent fluid commonly associated with blisters. Blood blisters are a rupture of the blood vessels underneath the skin’s surface, usually caused by some form of trauma, such as pinching or insect byting.

Like all forms of blisters, blood blisters form on the upper layer of the skin. They are the body’s natural response to pressure or injury. What differentiates blood blisters from other blisters is the fact that the trauma caused the blood vessels to rupture. Blood blisters are commonly caused by accidents in which the skin is pinched by a tool, mechanism, or heavy weight without protective gear. The only prevention in these situations is to use tools carefully and wear appropriate protective equippment.

Sometimes the fluids are cut off from the rest of the body and dry up, leaving behind dead cell material inside the blister. Some blood blisters can be extremely painful due to bruising where the blister occurred.

The most common area for blood blisters to appear is on the feet, which are particularly prone to blistering. This is often caused by shoes that do not fit properly and pinch or put pressure on the feet. Therefore, wearing properly sized shoes reduces the chance of developing blood blisters.