Blisters and footprints

[blueyedevil]

Can a blister get rid of the ridges that make up the finger/foot print.

I have a blister on my foot (just from walking in high shoes, not a burn or anything) which is currently healing. Looking closely it has yet to develop the ridges that the rest of the toe has which make up the print. Could the blister have totally got rid of the print and the new skin won't have ridges, or is it just a matter of giving it time to heal fully?

[Catso]

I think it's because the ridges pattern comes from a layer of skin beneath the surface one and so you only get them when the top layer is 'stuck' to the one beneath. And of course the blister has stretched the surface layer, which helps remove the patterns

Same sort of thing happens with finger blisters, too.

If they didn't come back, one of the long-time central planks of criminal investigations would be up the creek without a paddle!

[stevie21]

No - "fingerprints" always return after blisters. I've had plenty of blisters and I'm not set for a career as a criminal mastermind.