blisters

Last reviewed 03/2021

A blister is an important physical sign in dermatology. Blisters can be divided by size into:

  • vesicles which are less than 0.5 cm in diameter
  • bullae which are greater than 0.5 cm in diameter

Blisters can also be divided according to the level of the histological split into:

  • intra-epidermal blisters
  • sub-epidermal blisters

Intra and sub-epidermal blisters can often be differentiated clinically since intra-epidermal blisters are thin roofed and easily ruptured.