![]() If you or a loved one has a blistering burn, prompt medical attention can aid healing. However, first- and second-degree burns are more painful. Third-degree burns are the most serious type and can be life-threatening. All deep burns require treatment to prevent infection and scarring. Children and older adults are at highest risk. Should I look out for signs of complications?īurns happen accidentally.What steps can I take to lower the future risk of accidental burns?.What steps can I take to lower the risk of scarring?.What steps can I take to lower the risk of infection?.What is the best treatment for this burn?.You may want to ask your healthcare provider: Fever, yellow or green discharge, or other signs of infection.Burns that don’t improve after two weeks.Burns on the hands, feet, face or genitalia.You should call your healthcare provider if you experience: Severe infection that may lead to amputation or sepsis.Seriously low blood pressure (hypotension) that may lead to shock.Edema (excess fluid and swelling in tissues).Arrhythmia, or heart rhythm disturbances, caused by an electrical burn.Potential complications of third-degree burns include: Even first- and second-degree burns can become infected and cause discoloration and scarring. Third-degree burns that are deep and affect a large portion of skin are very serious and can be life-threatening. Treatment also includes extra fluids (usually given intravenously, with an IV) to keep blood pressure steady and prevent shock and dehydration. ![]() If the person does not have enough skin available for a graft at the time of injury, a temporary source of graft can come from a deceased donor or a human-made (artificial) source but these will eventually need to be replace by the person’s own skin. The area where the skin graft is taken from generally heals on its own. Skin grafts replace damaged tissue with healthy skin from another of the uninjured part of the person’s body. Third-degree burns: Third-degree burns can be life-threatening and often require skin grafts.Elevating the burned area can reduce pain and swelling. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a stronger antibiotic cream that contains silver, such as silver sulfadiazine, to kill bacteria. Second-degree burns: Treatment for second- and first-degree burns is similar.You can also take over-the-counter pain medication. For thermal burns, apply antibiotic cream and cover lightly with gauze. First-degree burns: Run cool water over the burn.Treating the person’s pain is key: inadequate control can interfere with wound care.Ĭontinue to check wounds for signs of infection and other long term issues, such as scarring and tightening of the skin over joints and muscles, which makes them difficult to move. You need to keep all burns clean and apply proper bandages/dressing depending on the severity of the wounds. Burned skin may be black, white or red with a leathery appearance.īurn treatment varies depending on the cause and severity. Because third-degree burns damage nerve endings, you probably won’t feel pain in the area of the burn itself, rather adjacent to it. The burn also destroys hair follicles and sweat glands. Third-degree burns affect all three skin layers: epidermis, dermis and fat.You may experience pain, redness, swelling and blistering. Second-degree burns affect skin’s top and lower layers (dermis).The top layer of skin (epidermis) turns red and is painful but doesn’t typically blister. First-degree burns are mild (like most sunburns).Your provider will evaluate the extent of skin damage. Healthcare providers classify burns by degrees of severity. Children and teens are also more likely to mess around with lighters, matches and fireworks or get sunburns. These age groups are more prone to burn injuries from cooking, such as spilling a boiling pan of water onto skin. Who might get a burn?Īccidental burns can happen to anyone, although children, teenagers and older people are most at risk. Every day, more than 300 children receive emergency treatment for burn injuries. ![]() Children are at high risk for accidental burns. How common are burns?Ĭlose to half a million people go to the emergency department every year with burn injuries. Left untreated, a burn can lead to infection. Your healthcare provider determines the seriousness (degree) of a burn based on the depth of the burn and the amount of affected skin. A burn occurs when heat, chemicals, sunlight, electricity or radiation damages skin tissue. ![]()
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