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What's Inside a Blister?

Published in Blister Contents 2 mins read

A blister contains a fluid-filled sac within the upper layers of the skin.

The Contents of a Blister

Most blisters are filled with a clear fluid. This fluid is typically either serum or plasma, which are components of blood. However, depending on the cause, a blister may also contain lymph, blood, or pus.

  • Serum and Plasma: These are the most common contents, forming a clear, watery fluid. They are components of blood responsible for carrying nutrients and other essential substances.
  • Lymph: This is a clear fluid that is part of the body's immune system. Its presence in a blister may indicate an inflammatory response.
  • Blood: Blood may be present in blisters caused by trauma, such as burns or severe friction. This would result in a blister that is reddish or bloody in appearance.
  • Pus: If a blister is infected, it will likely contain pus, which is a thick, yellowish-white fluid containing white blood cells fighting off infection.

The type of fluid inside a blister depends largely on the cause of the blister. A simple friction blister will usually contain clear serum or plasma, while a burn blister might contain plasma and blood, and an infected blister will contain pus.

A blister is a small pocket of body fluid (lymph, serum, plasma, blood, or pus) within the upper layers of the skin, usually caused by forceful rubbing (friction), burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection.