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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Blood Blisters
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Blood Blisters
by kismet, Mar 10, 2001 12:00AM
My mother-in-law has just informed me that she has a very large blood blister which has come up on one of her toes. She does not remember any trauma which may have been incurred and says it has been developing for about 4 days. She is 88 years old so she may not remember. However, I do not know how to tell her to treat this. (She is in another city) Should she apply heat, soak in something ... ?? I am reluctant to tell her to drain it for fear of infection. Her circulationin very poor.
Any help you can give me would be appreciated.
Any help you can give me would be appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Mar 11, 2001 12:00AM
, Mar 11, 2001 12:00AM
Kismet:
If the blister is painless, it comes most likely from unremebered trauma. Even people a lot younger than 88 often don't recall the minor bump or scrape which produced the alarming purple bruise or blister they see one day.
I think, however, that in light of her advanced age, your mother-in-law would be better off calling her doctor for advise. Puncturing the blister is, as you suggest, not a good idea. If it's just a blister, time will take care of it with just padding and time (perhaps a week.)
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
If the blister is painless, it comes most likely from unremebered trauma. Even people a lot younger than 88 often don't recall the minor bump or scrape which produced the alarming purple bruise or blister they see one day.
I think, however, that in light of her advanced age, your mother-in-law would be better off calling her doctor for advise. Puncturing the blister is, as you suggest, not a good idea. If it's just a blister, time will take care of it with just padding and time (perhaps a week.)
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
