Originally Posted by ATV Connection

Health lesson time: Blisters are small pockets of fluid within the upper layers of the skin, typically caused by forceful rubbing & friction. While the clear nature of the fluid within often leads to the misconception that they are pockets of water, most blisters are in fact filled with a fluid called serum or plasma. The good news? Most blisters are completely preventable with a little planning. ATV riders most often suffer blisters on the hands/ fingers on account of the nature of our interaction with the handlebars.

Keep in mind that friction blisters are caused by excess shear stress between the surface of the skin and in this case, the rubber of the ATV’s grips. The area around the Stratum lucidum (clear layer of skin) is most susceptible to shear. As the Stratum lucidum tears away from the connecting tissues below, plasma from the cells actually diffuses out and forms a little pocket. This plasma solution helps new cells divide and grow into new connective tissues and epidermal layers.