We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Do I Recognize Blisters from an Allergic Reaction?

By Erin J. Hill
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 16,665
Share

The most accurate way of recognizing blisters from an allergic reaction is to take note of their appearance and of what you were doing before they appeared. Most allergy-related blisters will develop in clusters, so if you have a single blister, you probably are not be having an allergy reaction. Actual blisters and allergy-related blisters are also different in appearance. An allergic reaction also usually has a number of other symptoms.

One way to recognize blisters caused by an allergic reaction is that they usually form in groups or clusters. While most blisters form due to friction or injury to one particular area, such as from shoes rubbing the back of your heel, allergy-related ones are not typically formed in response to an injury. Most times, you will notice several blisters formed in one area rather than just one solitary lesion.

The appearance of blisters from an allergic reaction may also be different from other forms. They often form directly over an area of skin that was exposed to an allergen. For instance, blisters that form in response to henna temporary tattoos typically only form directly over the painted area. If you have sores that look different than most, you may have hives. These are bumps that appear on the skin and they resemble pimples, although they don’t usually have whiteheads.

If you notice blisters anywhere around your body and you know that you have recently used a new laundry detergent, soap, or lotion, there is a good chance you are allergic to it. This is one of the best ways to tell the difference between allergy blisters and others. Pay close attention to the products you use, and try to stop using anything you think may be causing a reaction.

Take note of any other symptoms you may be having as well. Skin redness or dryness, itching, oozing, and general irritation are all signs of an allergic reaction, as are sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, stuffy nose, and wheezing. These will usually be temporary and are not serious.

Occasionally, signs of a severe allergic reaction may also develop. These can include shortness of breath, dizziness, heaviness in the chest, nausea, and even fainting. Shock may also occur in very serious cases. If any of these symptoms appear before or shortly after blisters appear, you may be experiencing anaphylactic shock and should seek medical attention right away.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Rotergirl — On Aug 24, 2014

I got a blister from a yellowjacket sting. The sting also made me feel kind of nauseated and dizzy. It wasn't a full-on allergic reaction, thank goodness, but I felt pretty bad, and that blister hurt like the devil!

I went to an urgent care clinic because I felt so awful, and the doctor gave me a shot of antihistamine and told me to keep an epi-pen around in case I got stung again and had even a mild reaction. I've been stung by a red wasp since then, but didn't have a reaction other than the pain from the sting.

By Pippinwhite — On Aug 23, 2014

My husband got blisters from a new laundry detergent he used. He really broke out and had hives and blisters. I had to dose him up with Benadryl. Now, we usually use the detergent that's labeled "free" because it usually doesn't have color or fragrance added. I don't know why you need color in a detergent anyway.

I also went ahead and replaced all our soap with Ivory soap and he uses a "free" shampoo, in that it doesn't have color added. I'm not as sensitive to that kind of thing. I don't usually have a reaction, but he sure does!

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-recognize-blisters-from-an-allergic-reaction.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.