Monday, February 1, 2010
What causes burns?
You can get burned by heat, fire, radiation, sunlight, electricity or chemicals. There are 3 degrees of burns:
First-degree burns are red and painful. They swell a little. They turn white when you press on the skin. The skin over the burn may peel off after 1 or 2 days.
Second-degree burns are thicker burns, are very painful and typically produce blisters on the skin. The skin is very red or splotchy, and may be very swollen and usually heal in 2 to 3 weeks.
Third-degree burns cause damage to all layers of the skin. The burned skin looks white or charred. These burns may cause little or no pain because the nerves and tissue in the skin are damaged and usually take a very long time to heal.
How are burns treated?
1. Use cold water or cloths soaked in cold water on burned areas for 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. Do not use ice at all. Doing this could result in frostbite.
2. Cover the area loosely with a dry cloth, such as sterile gauze. Hold it in place by taping only the edges of the gauze. Change the dressing the next day and every 2 days after that.
3. Do not use ointments. Aloe vera can be applied over closed skin 3 to 4 times a day. For a more severe burn less than 3'' x 2'', use Second Skin Moisture Pads, etc.
4. Do not break blisters. If they break on their own, apply an antibacterial spray or ointment or treatment prescribed by your doctor. Keep the area loosely covered with a sterile dressing.
5. Prop the burned area higher than the rest of the body, if you can.
You can get burned by heat, fire, radiation, sunlight, electricity or chemicals. There are 3 degrees of burns:
First-degree burns are red and painful. They swell a little. They turn white when you press on the skin. The skin over the burn may peel off after 1 or 2 days.
Second-degree burns are thicker burns, are very painful and typically produce blisters on the skin. The skin is very red or splotchy, and may be very swollen and usually heal in 2 to 3 weeks.
Third-degree burns cause damage to all layers of the skin. The burned skin looks white or charred. These burns may cause little or no pain because the nerves and tissue in the skin are damaged and usually take a very long time to heal.
How are burns treated?
1. Use cold water or cloths soaked in cold water on burned areas for 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. Do not use ice at all. Doing this could result in frostbite.
2. Cover the area loosely with a dry cloth, such as sterile gauze. Hold it in place by taping only the edges of the gauze. Change the dressing the next day and every 2 days after that.
3. Do not use ointments. Aloe vera can be applied over closed skin 3 to 4 times a day. For a more severe burn less than 3'' x 2'', use Second Skin Moisture Pads, etc.
4. Do not break blisters. If they break on their own, apply an antibacterial spray or ointment or treatment prescribed by your doctor. Keep the area loosely covered with a sterile dressing.
5. Prop the burned area higher than the rest of the body, if you can.
posted by emedinfo
@9:53 PM
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