examples being feet against shoes, even if the foot is covered by a sock.
In: 27
[removed]
Blisters are an example of a body adaptation that helps protect our skin when it’s exposed to too much rubbing or friction. Our bodies are amazing and have developed different ways to cope with challenges, just like how animals have special features to survive in their environments.
When our skin rubs against another surface too much, it can get damaged. The top layer of our skin called the epidermis, is a protective shield that keeps our body safe from outside dangers. But when the rubbing is too intense, the epidermis can get hurt.
To handle this, our body has adapted to form blisters. Blisters are like little cushions that form between the damaged epidermis and the deeper layer of skin called the dermis. They are filled with a clear fluid that acts as a natural bandage. This fluid helps protect the damaged area, preventing further harm and giving the skin a chance to heal.
By forming blisters, our bodies show us how cleverly they can adapt to different situations. It’s like having a built-in first aid kit! Blisters eventually go away on their own as the skin underneath heals, and they remind us to be careful and take care of our bodies when we play or do activities that might cause too much rubbing.
Friction blisters result from shearing forces (two forces going in opposite directions) where the epidermis (top layer of skin) is being pulled in a different direction than the underlying tissue. This can happen for example with ill-fitting shoes where the foot is moving forward but the skin on the foot is being pulled back at the point of friction. Moisture (either from sweating or getting wet) increases the friction and the chance of blister formation. Other factors in blister formation include the how strong the shearing force is and how many times it occurs.
What happens internally during blister formation is that this shearing force causes necrosis (cell death) in the weakest layer of the epidermis called the stratum spinosum. The cell death leads to a split in the middle of the epidermis which then fills with sterile fluid called serum. Serum comes from nearby blood vessels that are responding to the injury.
Interestingly, blisters tend to form in areas of the body that have a thick stratum spinosum layer – which would be feet and hands. In other areas of the body, shearing forces tend to form abrasions (scrapes) or ulcers instead.
[removed]
Latest Answers