About this topic
A chemical exposure to your skin happens when certain chemicals or substances get on your skin and cause harm. Chemicals can be in powders, liquids, sprays, or solids. Some chemicals do not do serious harm to the skin. These are called harmless chemicals. Harmless chemicals may cause soreness or pain. They do not cause serious damage. Others, called harmful chemicals, can cause serious damage to the skin including burns or blisters. ‚
How much skin damage you have is based on the kind of chemical and how long it was on your skin. Damage can happen within minutes. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Change dressings as you have been told by your doctor.
- Use creams or ointments as you have been told by your doctor. Do not use over-the-counter (OTC) creams unless your doctor says it is OK.
- Do not pick at or scratch your wound.
- Wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
- Ask your doctor when it is safe to take a bath or shower.
- Wear soft, loose clothing if the burn is on your body.
- Stay out of the sun. You will need to put on extra sunscreen for up to a year after you heal.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check how you are doing. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain or swelling
- Prevent or fight an infection
- Help with healing
Will physical activity be limited?
Physical activity may be limited. It depends on where your burn is and how much pain you have. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Scarring
- Uneven healing
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wear safety clothing and glasses when working with chemicals at home or at work.
- Keep all household products, like cleaning supplies and other home chemicals, out of the reach of children.
- Buy chemicals that are in safety containers and spillproof bottles.
- Keep all chemicals in their original containers.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, or wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my skin.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/ ‚
http://www.hse.gov.uk/skin/employ/exposure.htm ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚