Ahhh!!! That would make sense. I have never seen fresh keratin burn but I'd imagine it would buble up kinda like burning hair meltingBecause of where it is - on the top of the tortoise - I'm going with too close to the hot light and it burned the new growth.
Ok so if the lamp is off and tort is just basking outside, the growth from this point on should be smooth, no bubbles. If it doesn't smooth up then I'd say get it medically checked.Hmmm that COULD be it, but is there anything else could it be? I don't know when the bubbles first started, but the heat lamp hasn't been really on lately.