The number of people living with fragile skin continues to rise as populations age, more individuals experience multiple comorbidities and increasing numbers undergo surgical procedures throughout their lives (Chudasama et al., 2021; Nepogodiev et al., 2025). As a result, global healthcare systems and the wider health workforce are facing an unprecedented challenge in managing conditions that compromise skin integrity.
Approximately 310 million people worldwide undergo a surgical procedure per year, with the associated trauma of major surgery and its potential complications, such as blistering, non-healing wounds and infections (Dobson, 2020; Nepogodiev et al., 2025). A wound of any type can negatively affect a patient’s recovery after surgery due to pain, immobility, risk of infection and related complications, and potentially complex and costly interventions (Eastburn et al., 2016). It is, therefore, paramount to optimise management of these wounds and to prevent blistering to improve patient outcomes.
Blistering remains a common yet frequently overlooked complication of surgical wounds, despite its recognised association with pain, delayed healing and increased risk of infection. In clinical practice, blistering is often underreported or poorly documented, reflecting a perception that it is an unavoidable or a relatively minor consequence of surgery. This normalisation of blistering risks minimising its clinical significance and may contribute to missed opportunities for prevention and early intervention.
Lack of reporting has hindered the development of a robust evidence base to guide best practice in the prevention and management of blistering in surgical wounds. Consequently, variation persists in assessment, product selection and wound care practices, potentially exposing patients to avoidable harm. Addressing this gap requires greater clinical awareness, routine risk assessment and more consistent reporting of blistering, alongside integration of evidence-based practice in routine care to improve patient outcomes.
Healthcare professionals (HCPs) should understand how to maintain skin integrity, especially for at-risk individuals, such as those who are older and have comorbidities that may have a negative impact on skin integrity. There is a need to enhance and support clinician awareness of risk factors for blister formation and potential complications.
To achieve these objectives, this consensus document provides practical approaches to blister management. It highlights areas for further research, the importance of generating accurate prevalence and incidence data across global settings and the need for incorporating technological advances, such as artificial intelligence (AI), into care pathways and educational programmes.
Download the PDF to access the full consensus document.
