About this topic
A burn is a type of injury to your skin or body. Burns may be caused by heat or chemicals. Electricity, sunlight, and radiation can cause them as well. Burns can cause redness, swelling, and blistering. They may lead to scarring, shock, or even death. Germs can easily enter the damaged skin of a burn. This can lead to infection. ‚
Burns are named by how many tissue layers are damaged. There are three types of burns: ‚
- First degree burns ¢ ˆ ’ Damage is only on the outer layer of skin. You will have pain, redness, and swelling. The skin will be dry. These burns often heal without skin grafts. Healing time is most often 3 to 6 days.
- Second degree burns ¢ ˆ ’ Damage is on the outer layer of skin and at the layer underneath. You will have pain, swelling, and redness. Your skin will also have blisters. The area may be wet. These burns often heal without skin grafts. Healing time may take up to 3 weeks or more.
- Third degree burns ¢ ˆ ’ Destroy the deepest layer of the skin and tissues underneath. This may involve damage to fat, muscle, and bone. You will have white, blackened, or charred skin. There may be numbness and little pain at first if the nerves are damaged. This kind of burn needs a skin graft to cover the exposed tissue.
How a burn is treated will vary. It will depend on how bad the burn is. It will also depend on where the burn is on your body. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask the 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 to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your burn. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages. If you have blisters, cover them with bandages. Never open, break, or pick any blisters. Keeping any blisters intact will help lessen the risk of infection.
- When you may take a bath or shower. Test your water temperature before washing the affected area. Wash gently and pat dry. Do not rub.
- What skin products you may use on your burned skin. Some products may bother the skin and cause rashes making the burned area worse.
- What drugs you need to take, if any at all. Take drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds.
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving.
- Do not scratch your skin. Ask your doctor if you can use warm or cold compresses to help with pain or itching.
- If your legs are injured, you can use crutches, a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair to help you get around safely.
- Once your burn heals, your new skin will be more sensitive. Wear light clothing. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight. Apply sunscreen when the burn is fully healed.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Ask your doctor how to best avoid scarring. Talk to your doctor about how to improve the look of your skin as it heals. Your doctor may have you see a plastic surgeon if you had very bad burns.
- Your doctor may suggest you see a therapist who may be able to help you cope with the trauma from burns.
- Your doctor may have you see a physical therapist if you are having tightness in the injured area or trouble moving around.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent scarring
- Prevent or fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. Ask your doctor if you can do light exercises. They may help to increase blood flow and speed up healing. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Eat foods rich in proteins. Good choices are beans, nuts, cheese, fish, eggs, meat, poultry, and milk. Proteins will help your body build new skin.
- Eat healthy foods like whole grain cereals, breads, fruits, and vegetables to help your body heal.
- Avoid foods that have a lot a sugar. Eating too much sugar can lead to slow healing.
What problems could happen?
- Infection at the burned area or overall infection
- Low blood volume
- Low body temperature
- Breathing problems
- Scarring
- Problems moving burned part
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Protect your home from fire.
- Have smoke alarms in all levels in the house and in every bedroom. Change the batteries twice a year when the time changes.
- Put fire extinguishers in key locations at home, work, and school. Know how to use them.
- Set your water heaters temperature between 120 ‚ °F to 130 ‚ °F (49 ‚ °C to 54 ‚ °C).
- Only store gasoline in safety cans. Keep gasoline, chemicals, and cleaning solutions away from open flames. Store them where children cannot reach them.
- Avoid smoking. If you do smoke, do not smoke in bed when you feel sleepy or after taking drugs that will make you sleep.
- Keep your kitchen safe from fire.
- Keep children away from hot items like irons, stoves, and oven doors.
- Be careful when cooking in the kitchen. Always keep pot handles out of reach of children. Take extra care when using deep fat fryers or when cooking with grease.
- Keep your stove and oven clean. Wipe down grease build up to avoid a fire.
- Do not warm baby bottles in the microwave. Heating may be uneven and cause burns in a baby's mouth.
- Do not use tablecloths when small children are around. Children can pull on the tablecloth and cause hot liquids or food to spill.
- Help keep children safe.
- Teach your children about fire safety.
- Keep lit candles, matches, and lighters out of reach of children.
- Always use sunscreen when going outdoors. Reapply every 2 hours or more often, especially if you are in water.
- Test bathwater with your elbow before getting in or putting your child into the water.
- Never drink hot liquids when carrying or holding a child.
- Use caution when entering a car on a hot day. Seats may be very hot as well as the metal on seatbelts. Cover them with a blanket or use a shade in the windshield.
- Use child safety protective covers in all electrical outlets. Keep all electrical cords out of reach of children.
- Do not use fireworks or sparklers.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the burn; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the burn.
- You are having trouble moving the burned area
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
- You have any new problems or concerns
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 burn and skin.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/burns.html# ‚
National Institute of Health ‚
http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Factsheet_Burns.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. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚