Vesicles

Blisters

A vesicle is a small fluid-filled blister on the skin.

Considerations

A vesicle is small. It may be as tiny as the top of a pin or up to 5 millimeters wide. A larger blister is called a bulla.

In many cases, vesicles break easily and release their fluid onto the skin. When this fluid dries, yellow crusts may remain on the skin surface.

Causes

Many diseases and conditions can cause vesicles. Common examples include:

Allergic reactions to drugs
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Eczema
Atopic dermatitis is a long-term (chronic) skin disorder that involves scaly and itchy rashes. It is a type of eczema. Other forms of eczema include...
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Autoimmune disorders such as bullous pemphigoid or pemphigus
Bullous pemphigoid
Bullous pemphigoid is a skin disorder characterized by blisters.
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Pemphigus
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disorder of the skin. It involves blistering and sores (erosions) of the skin and mucous membranes....
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Blistering skin diseases including porphyria cutanea tarda and dermatitis herpetiformis
Porphyria
Porphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of hemoglobin, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in ...
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Dermatitis herpetiformis
Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a very itchy rash consisting of bumps and blisters. The rash is chronic (long-term).
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Chickenpox
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a viral infection in which a person develops very itchy blisters all over the body. It was more common in the past. The illness is ra...
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Contact dermatitis (may be caused by poison ivy)
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a condition in which the skin becomes red, sore, or inflamed after direct contact with a substance.
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Herpes simplex (cold sores, genital herpes)
Genital herpes
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). This article focuses on HSV type 2 infection....

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Herpes zoster (shingles)
Herpes zoster
Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. This is the viru...
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Bacterial infections
Fungal infections
Burns
Friction
Treatment with cryotherapy (to treat a wart for example)

Home Care

It is best to have your health care provider examine any skin rashes, including vesicles.

Over-the-counter treatments are available for certain conditions that cause vesicles, including poison ivy and cold sores.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if you have any unexplained blisters on your skin.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will look at your skin. Some vesicles can be diagnosed simply by how they look.

In many cases, additional tests are needed. The fluid inside a blister may be sent to a lab for closer examination. In particularly difficult cases, a skin biopsy may be needed to make or confirm a diagnosis.

Treatment will depend on the cause of the vesicles.

Open References

References

Dinulos JGH. Vesicular and bullous diseases. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 16.

Marks JG, Miller JJ. Vesicles and bullae. In: Marks JG, Miller JJ, eds. Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 10.

Bullous pemphigoid - close-up of tense blisters - illustration
Pemphigus is classified as one of the blistering diseases. These is a close-up picture of typical lesions. Very small blisters are called vesicles. Larger blisters, like these, are called bullae.
Bullous pemphigoid - close-up of tense blisters
illustration
Chigger bite - close-up of blisters - illustration
Chigger bites are caused by the larvae of the chigger. The bite produces blisters (vesicles) and bleeding into the skin (purpura). These bites itch intensely and are usually located on exposed areas of the skin where the chigger larvae have access. This photograph demonstrates vesicle formation following the bites.
Chigger bite - close-up of blisters
illustration
Hand, foot, and mouth disease on the soles - illustration
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is cause by a coxsackie virus. It produces mouth ulcers and small blisters (vesicles) on the hands and feet. The vesicles often have a reddish border with a white or lighter colored area in the center.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease on the soles
illustration
Herpes simplex - close-up - illustration
This close-up view of an early herpes outbreak shows small, grouped blisters and a lot of redness.
Herpes simplex - close-up
illustration
Herpes zoster (shingles) - close-up of lesion - illustration
A close-up picture of herpes zoster skin lesions. Four small blisters are shown with redness around them. These vesicles will break, crust over, scab, and finally heal.
Herpes zoster (shingles) - close-up of lesion
illustration
Poison ivy on the knee - illustration
This is a typical early appearance of a poison ivy rash, located on the knee. These early lesions consist of multiple small blisters (vesicles), often in a line where the skin has brushed against the poison ivy plant. The person may then spread the toxin to other areas of the body by scratching.
Poison ivy on the knee
illustration
Poison ivy on the leg - illustration
This is a typical early appearance of a poison ivy rash, located on the leg. These early lesions consist of multiple small blisters, often in a line where the skin has brushed against the poison ivy plant. The rash is caused by skin contact with the oily sap (resin) of these plants. The oily resin usually enters the skin rapidly, and is seldom transferred from person to person. The rash is not caused by the fluid from the blisters. Thus, once the person has washed the oil off the skin, the rash is usually not contagious.
Poison ivy on the leg
illustration
Vesicles - illustration
A vesicle, or blister, is a thin-walled sac filled with a fluid, usually clear and small. Vesicle is an important term used to describe the appearance of many rashes that typically consist of or begin with tiny-to-small fluid-filled blisters.
Vesicles
illustration

Bullous pemphigoid - close-up of tense blisters - illustration
Pemphigus is classified as one of the blistering diseases. These is a close-up picture of typical lesions. Very small blisters are called vesicles. Larger blisters, like these, are called bullae.
Bullous pemphigoid - close-up of tense blisters
illustration
Chigger bite - close-up of blisters - illustration
Chigger bites are caused by the larvae of the chigger. The bite produces blisters (vesicles) and bleeding into the skin (purpura). These bites itch intensely and are usually located on exposed areas of the skin where the chigger larvae have access. This photograph demonstrates vesicle formation following the bites.
Chigger bite - close-up of blisters
illustration
Hand, foot, and mouth disease on the soles - illustration
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is cause by a coxsackie virus. It produces mouth ulcers and small blisters (vesicles) on the hands and feet. The vesicles often have a reddish border with a white or lighter colored area in the center.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease on the soles
illustration
Herpes simplex - close-up - illustration
This close-up view of an early herpes outbreak shows small, grouped blisters and a lot of redness.
Herpes simplex - close-up
illustration
Herpes zoster (shingles) - close-up of lesion - illustration
A close-up picture of herpes zoster skin lesions. Four small blisters are shown with redness around them. These vesicles will break, crust over, scab, and finally heal.
Herpes zoster (shingles) - close-up of lesion
illustration
Poison ivy on the knee - illustration
This is a typical early appearance of a poison ivy rash, located on the knee. These early lesions consist of multiple small blisters (vesicles), often in a line where the skin has brushed against the poison ivy plant. The person may then spread the toxin to other areas of the body by scratching.
Poison ivy on the knee
illustration
Poison ivy on the leg - illustration
This is a typical early appearance of a poison ivy rash, located on the leg. These early lesions consist of multiple small blisters, often in a line where the skin has brushed against the poison ivy plant. The rash is caused by skin contact with the oily sap (resin) of these plants. The oily resin usually enters the skin rapidly, and is seldom transferred from person to person. The rash is not caused by the fluid from the blisters. Thus, once the person has washed the oil off the skin, the rash is usually not contagious.
Poison ivy on the leg
illustration
Vesicles - illustration
A vesicle, or blister, is a thin-walled sac filled with a fluid, usually clear and small. Vesicle is an important term used to describe the appearance of many rashes that typically consist of or begin with tiny-to-small fluid-filled blisters.
Vesicles
illustration

Review Date: 6/7/2023

Reviewed By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Health Library

Vesicles

Considerations

Causes

Eczema

Bullous pemphigoid

Pemphigus

Porphyria

Dermatitis herpetiformis

Chickenpox

Contact dermatitis

Genital herpes

Herpes zoster

Home Care

When to Contact a Medical Professional

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Skin biopsy

References

Bullous pemphigoid - close-up of tense blisters - illustration

Bullous pemphigoid - close-up of tense blisters

Chigger bite - close-up of blisters - illustration

Chigger bite - close-up of blisters

Hand, foot, and mouth disease on the soles - illustration

Hand, foot, and mouth disease on the soles

Herpes simplex - close-up - illustration

Herpes simplex - close-up

Herpes zoster (shingles) - close-up of lesion - illustration

Herpes zoster (shingles) - close-up of lesion

Poison ivy on the knee - illustration

Poison ivy on the knee

Poison ivy on the leg - illustration

Poison ivy on the leg

Vesicles - illustration

Vesicles

Bullous pemphigoid - close-up of tense blisters - illustration

Bullous pemphigoid - close-up of tense blisters

Chigger bite - close-up of blisters - illustration

Chigger bite - close-up of blisters

Hand, foot, and mouth disease on the soles - illustration

Hand, foot, and mouth disease on the soles

Herpes simplex - close-up - illustration

Herpes simplex - close-up

Herpes zoster (shingles) - close-up of lesion - illustration

Herpes zoster (shingles) - close-up of lesion

Poison ivy on the knee - illustration

Poison ivy on the knee

Poison ivy on the leg - illustration

Poison ivy on the leg

Vesicles - illustration

Vesicles

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