Treatment for second-degree burns varies. It may include ointments or special dressings. Surgery may be necessary for very deep second degree burns or those that are slow to heal. Third-degree and more severe burns also called full thickness burns damage both layers of the skin and may also damage the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons.
It may feel dry and leathery. Sometimes there is no pain because the nerve endings under the skin are destroyed. Third-degree burns have a high risk of infection. They are usually treated with skin grafts. This surgery, done with general anesthesia, removes the injured skin and replaces it with healthy skin from an uninjured area of the body.
Full thickness burns that are not grafted may take months or even years to heal. Third-degree burns likely leave raised scars. Burn survivors may have a combination of first, second, and third degree burns. Talk with your health care providers to better understand your specific injuries. Treatment Options for Burn Injury Wound Care Antibiotic an-ti-bahy-OT-ik ointments or creams are often used to prevent or treat infections in patients with second-degree burns. Skin Grafts Larger areas of third degree full thickness burns are treated with skin grafts.
Sheet grafts are usually applied to the face or hands for better cosmetic effect. Sheet graft uses the whole piece of skin without the holes in it. It gives a better cosmetic appearance but requires much more skin to cover a specific area.
Newly healed grafts are very fragile. Special care should be taken to protect them. Be careful not to bump, rub, or scratch them. Do not wear rough clothing or anything that rubs; this can cause blistering. Meshed grafts are used for larger wounds. For permanent wound coverage, a piece of your own skin is taken from another part of the body donor skin to close the open area. When the donor skin is taken off the body, it shrinks.
To stretch the donor skin, it is put through a machine that makes small slits or holes in the skin. This stretched skin covers a larger area than an unmeshed sheet graft, but leaves a permanent mesh pattern similar to fish net stockings. The wound heals as the areas between the mesh and the holes fill in with new skin.
Once the mesh sheet sticks to the skin and the drainage stops, the wound is considered healed and can be left open to air. Lotion can be used to keep it moist. Full-thickness grafts are used for reconstruction of small areas that are prone to contracture such as the hand or chin. It consists of the full thickness of the skin and shrink the least compared to other grafts. Moisturizing Moisturizing will be very important after burn injury. Once the skin is closed and no longer draining, it is important to keep it well moisturized.
This decreases the chances of developing blisters or skin tears. It also decreases itching and can make movement easier. There are many different lotions available. Lotions in bottles have a higher water content. They are also easier to apply. They often need to be applied frequently. Lotions in tubes and jars are thicker. They need to be massaged in more thoroughly. They last longer on your skin. Unscented lotion should be applied and massaged into the scar several times per day.
Unscented lotion is important — ask your doctor for recommendations. Applying lotion is a good time to touch your scars using light pressure; touching your scars is helpful in keeping them from getting sensitive. It is also a good time to do a little stretching. Blisters Newly healed skin is fragile. Minor shearing rubbing force on the scar can cause blisters.
Blisters also can develop from clothes that fit too tightly, shearing while putting on pressure garments, or rubbing or scratching the burn scar.
The burned area is large 2—3 inches wide , even if it seems like a minor burn. For any burn that appears to cover a large part of the body, call for medical help. Do not use wet compresses or ice because they can cause the child's body temperature to drop.
Instead, cover the area with a clean, soft cloth or towel. The burn comes from a fire, an electrical wire, a socket, or chemicals. The burn is on the face, scalp, hands, genitals, or on skin over a joint. The burn looks infected with swelling, pus, increasing redness, or red streaking of the skin near the wound.
For superficial burns: Remove the child from the heat source and take clothing off the burned area right away. Run cool not cold water over the burned area if water isn't available, any cold, drinkable fluid can be used or hold a clean, cold compress on the burn for 3—5 minutes do not use ice, which can cause more damage to the injured skin. Do not apply butter, grease, powder, or any other "folk" remedies to the burn, as these can make the burn deeper and increase the risk of infection.
Apply aloe gel or cream to the affected area. This may be done a few times during the day. Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. Follow the label directions for how much to give and how often.
Keep the affected area clean. You can protect it with a sterile gauze pad or bandage for the next 24 hours. Do not put adhesive bandages on very young kids, though, as these can be a choking hazard if they get loose. For partial thickness burns and full thickness burns: Call for emergency medical care.
Then, follow these steps until help arrives: Keep the child lying down with the burned area raised. Follow the instructions for first-degree burns. Remove all jewelry and clothing from around the burn in case there's any swelling after the injury , except for clothing that's stuck to the skin.
If you have trouble removing clothing, you may need to cut it off or wait until medical help arrives. Do not break any blisters. The blister will probably remain intact, although some burns units at hospitals follow a policy of deroofing blisters.
Deroofing means removing the top layer of skin from the blister. This is known as aspiration and may be carried out on large blisters or blisters that are likely to burst. Your healthcare professional will advise you about the best way to care for your blister and what type of dressing you should use.
During the first few years after a burn, you should try to avoid exposing the damaged skin to direct sunlight as this may cause it to blister. It's especially sensitive during the first year after the injury. This also applies to a new area of skin after a skin graft. It's important to keep the area covered with cotton clothing. If the burn or scald is on your face, wear a peaked cap or wide-brimmed hat when you're out in the sun.
Total sun block for example, one with a sun protection factor, SPF, of 50 should be used on all affected areas. The area can be exposed to sunshine again around 3 years after the injury, but it's still very important to apply a high-factor sun cream SPF 25 or above and stay out of the midday sun. Page last reviewed: 24 September Next review due: 24 September Burns that don't need medical attention If your burn or scald is mild and treated at home, it normally heals without the need for further treatment.
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