Diseases 42
infectiosum Strawberry marks rarely require surgical removal, irradiation, or oral steroids. Port wine marks cannot be treated satisfactorily at present, but laser treatment is in the experimental stage and appears promising.
RELATED TOPICS: Anemia;?
Quick Reference
Blisters
SYMPTOM
• A raised bubble of skin containing clear liquid HOME CARE
• Protect blisters with gauze or bandages.
• If accidentally opened, trim away loose skin, clean with soap and water, and bandage.
• If a blister becomes infected (red or tender), soak it in an Epsom salts solution or Burow's solution. Have infected blisters checked by a doctor.
PRECAUTIONS
• Do not break open blisters caused by rubbing or burns.
A blister should be protected with a bandage while it heals.
• If red streaks start spreading out from a blister, see your
doctor.
• If an Epsom salts solution is too weak, the soaking makes blisters larger. Use at least onehalf cup of Epsom salts to a quart of water.
I?
Blisters occur when there is a buildup of clear or almost clear fluid tween layers of the skin. They may be caused by heat burns; chemical ь ns friction (rubbing); bacterial or fungal infection: hand, foot, and uth disease: allergy to insect bites: or allergy to certain plants. Blisters range from the size of a pinhead to several inches across.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Blisters are obvious from their typical appearance-a raised bubble of skin containing clear fluid.
The cause of blisters is sometimes determined by their location. When blisters appear on the palms or heels, they are usually due to rubbing: most blisters on the feet are caused by illfitting shoes or by not wearing socks. Blisters on the soles and toes may be caused by a fungus. Blisters on the cuticles or backs of fingers almost always mean an infection.
HOME CARE
Do not break open blisters caused by rubbing or by burns. Protect them with gauze and bandages. If a blister is accidentally opened, trim away the major portion of loose skin, cleanse with soap and water, and bandage. If the blister becomes infected (redness and increasing tenderness are signs of infection), it should be soaked in an Epsom salts solution or Burow's solution (available without a prescription). An infected blister should be checked by a doctor.
PRECAUTIONS
• Red streaks extending from a blister indicate spreading infection. If red streaks appear, see your doctor.
• Soaking unbroken blisters in an Epsom salts solution that is too weak causes marked enlargement of the blisters. Use at least onehalf cup of Epsom salts to a quart of water.
MEDICAL TREATMENT
Your doctor will determine the cause of the blister and look for signs of infection. Infected blisters are opened, and the fluid is cultured to determine the type of infection. Soaks or oral antibiotics may be prescribed individually or in combination. infectiosum