Vesicles are possible symptoms of a wide variety of skin diseases. Therefore, in order to counteract vesicles in the long term, it is usually necessary to first determine the corresponding causes of vesicles.
What are vesicles?
Vesicles (also known as vesicles in medicine) are fluid accumulations that can occur, for example, under the so-called sclera or even under the cornea. These fluid collections are called vesicles when individual vesicles have diameters no larger than 5 millimeters. The fluid contained in vesicles can be bloody-watery or clear. Pus collections are usually not present in vesicles; if they are, corresponding fluid collections are called pustules, for example. Due to their relatively thin vesicle cover, vesicles are usually easy to injure. Depending on the cause/causes of vesicle formation, vesicles can take on different appearances; for example, vesicles can appear singly, but also in groups. In addition, depending on the cause of their formation, vesicles may be associated with pain on touch or itching, among other symptoms.
Causes
Possible causes of a formation of vesicles are diverse; as a rule, various diseases of the skin underlie vesicles. For example, vesicles may manifest as allergic reactions. For example, various contact allergies can lead to the formation of vesicles. Infectious diseases can also cause the appearance of vesicles; in this case, vesicles appear, for example, in the diseases herpes simplex (such as cold sores) or smallpox. The disease herpes zoster, colloquially known as shingles, can lead to the formation of grouped vesicles. Various autoimmune diseases (the immune system overreacts to the body’s own tissue) that affect the skin can also cause vesicles. Finally, if vesicles are caused by blood clotting disorders or vascular inflammation, these vesicles are often enriched with blood.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
The signs of vesicles (vesicula) are obvious: the surface of the skin begins to redden and itch, and at the same time tiny elevations form that gradually fill with fluid. This fluid consists mainly of water, but mixtures of blood and water also occur in some species. By definition, vesicles are up to five millimeters in size; anything larger is considered a blister. The vesicles usually occur clustered and in bundles. Most types of blisters, especially those of the very common herpes virus, are very itchy. However, scratching or rubbing intensifies the itching even more and is better refrained from. Since the blisters stretch and tighten the healthy skin very strongly, there is also a direct skin pain. The pain is particularly unpleasant in sensitive areas of the body, for example on the face, lips or hands. Many types of blisters also begin to ooze as they progress. A hard scab then forms, but it is only loosely attached to the injured skin underneath. If the scab is removed, minor bleeding and increased wound pain occur. Healing blisters usually leave an open skin wound where a small scar will later form. The affected area is particularly susceptible to the same type of blister in the future.
Diagnosis and course
The presence of vesicles can already be diagnosed on the basis of their appearance; information about a possible cause behind the vesicles is then usually first provided by patient information about the history of vesicles that have occurred. Based on the formation of vesicles and the nature of the fluid that has collected in the vesicles, a tentative diagnosis is then often possible. If the vesicles alone do not allow a conclusive diagnosis of the cause, blood or allergy tests, for example, can consolidate a tentative diagnosis of vesicles. The course of vesicles depends above all on the course of the disease on which the vesicles are based. If a corresponding disease can be successfully treated or cured, vesicles that have occurred usually also improve in terms of their severity or disappear completely.
Complications
The complications of vesicles depend on their causes.In most cases, these are infections and inflammations, which can be relatively well limited with the help of good hygiene and with the help of medication. The blisters can form in different parts of the body and thus contribute to reduced aesthetics. In many cases, patients do not feel beautiful and suffer from reduced self-esteem or inferiority complexes. It is not uncommon for the blisters to also hurt, which can limit the patient’s daily life and reduce their quality of life. Often the affected areas of skin are also itchy, and the patient should not scratch the skin under any circumstances. In the case of allergies, there is usually no causal treatment, whereby only the symptoms can be alleviated. Often the patient then has to do without a certain ingredient. Furthermore, inflammations and infections can be fought with the help of medication. With early treatment, complications usually do not occur. Treatment by a doctor is always recommended to avoid scarring. If the pain is severe, the patient can also take painkillers.
When should you go to the doctor?
In principle, it is advisable to consult a doctor at an early stage if vesicles appear. A quick start of treatment can reliably prevent worsening of symptoms and contribute to recovery. As soon as unusual skin changes and cavities are noticed that may be filled with fluid, a doctor should be consulted. This is especially true if home remedies and self-measures such as a change in diet or avoiding stress do not have the desired effect. Medical clarification is particularly urgent if the blisters become inflamed or rapidly increase in size and number. With painful or itchy vesicles should immediately go to the doctor’s office. In most cases, the vesicles are due to a harmless cause, which can be determined by taking a medical history. Subsequently, the trigger (e.g. a certain medication or a lack of personal hygiene) can be specifically treated. If the blisters do not recede as a result, the doctor will refer the patient to an appropriate specialist. Patients with infectious diseases such as herpes and smallpox or autoimmune diseases should talk to the appropriate specialist if they experience sudden skin changes.
Treatment and therapy
In order to successfully treat blisters in the long term, a detailed diagnosis of the cause is usually required first; if the cause behind a formation of blisters can be discovered, combating the causes can usually also treat the blisters. Basically, experts advise to consult a doctor at an early stage when vesicles occur; because an early start of treatment usually contributes to the fact that symptoms such as vesicles do not worsen and that an improvement can take place more quickly. Once the cause has been diagnosed, a distinction must then be made between causative and symptomatic treatment of vesicles: Symptomatic treatment of vesicles can consist, for example, of relieving pain or itching in the skin areas affected by vesicles. This can be done, for example, by applying individually suitable lotions or tinctures. If the pain is very severe, painkillers can also be used for vesicles. Causal treatment of vesicles is then carried out by treating the underlying disease: if, for example, viruses are the cause of vesicles (as in the case of shingles), so-called antivirals (drugs that fight viruses) can be used. In the case of a contact allergy that leads to vesicles, avoiding allergy-causing stimuli, among other things, can cure vesicles that have occurred.
Outlook and prognosis
Patients with vesicles usually have a very good prognosis outlook. The vesicles completely regress within a few days and thus the patient is free of symptoms as well as cured. The use of medical treatment must be decided on an individual basis. Small blisters do not always require medical treatment, as they heal independently within a short time. Therefore, many affected people do without treatment and rely on the self-healing powers of the body or the use of home remedies and natural remedies. Provided that no complications occur, these methods have proven to be quite effective. With medical care, however, the patient can be helped more extensively.The cause research provides information about the reasons for the occurrence and can therefore already be used for prevention before the formation of new blisters. In addition, the blisters heal more quickly with the support of drug treatment. The risk of infection is additionally reduced, as there are fewer open sores. Despite the good healing prospects, blisters may recur at any time. The prognosis in these cases is also very optimistic and does not change. Delays can occur if the patient is intolerant to medication or opens the blisters on their own. The leaking fluid may contribute to an increase in the number of blisters, and discomfort increases.
Prevention
To prevent vesicles, for example, regular visits to the doctor can be useful; diseases that can cause vesicles can thus be diagnosed earlier and treated accordingly. If vesicles have already appeared, a quick visit to the doctor can help prevent them from getting worse.
Follow-up care
Statements about medical aftercare cannot be made for vesicles. After all, vesicles have very different causes. Accordingly, aftercare is usually based on the underlying disease and never just on the vesicles themselves. In addition, most vesicles heal without complications or consequences, which also makes follow-up care unnecessary. However, if the skin is severely affected, it may be advisable to take precautionary measures in the weeks after the blisters have healed. These include, above all, gentle handling of the skin: scratching, overly hot showers, excessive use of soaps and tight, abrasive clothing disrupt the healing process and can cause infections to flare up again. Excessive heat, exertion and stress should be avoided as sweat is also bad for skin healing. In addition, if the blisters have led to open sores, it may be advisable to use wound ointments and the like. In the case of very severely affected areas, where the upper layers of the skin have been destroyed, good hygiene is advised. Otherwise, secondary infections may occur. Regular hand washing is relevant especially during and after the occurrence of vesicles, as there is a certain risk of infection and injury from unconscious scratching.
What you can do yourself
Successful treatment of vesicles usually requires a medical diagnosis. Depending on the cause, medical treatment can then be supported by various self-measures and some household and natural remedies. First of all, hygiene measures should be adapted to the skin disease. Proper showering behavior (water temperature 32 to 38 degrees, showering for no longer than five to ten minutes) can reduce further skin irritation. The use of gentle skin care products also contributes to healthy skin and rapid healing of blisters. Accompanying this, sufferers should pay attention to a balanced diet, regular exercise and avoiding stress. All these factors ensure a better skin appearance and are best seen as a supplement to medical treatment. Pain or itching can be treated symptomatically by applying soothing ointments from the drugstore as well as aloe vera, compresses with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Teas made from mint oil, butterbur, devil’s claw or willow bark relieve pain and inflammation. If further blisters appear despite all measures, the following applies: do not scratch or prick. A further visit to the doctor or a visit to the dermatologist is more sensible.
