Burn Treatment

Burns can be very painful and shocking experiences. Burn treatment must be done properly to prevent infection and permanent skin damage. It is important to understand the type of burn that you have so that you can properly treat the burn.

Burn treatment for different degrees of burns will be different. A first-degree burn is the most mild type of burn. These types of burns include sunburn, contact burn and heat burns. First-degree burns only damage the outer layer of skin, and do not go deep. The burn treatment for a first-degree burn starts with cool water. It is not a good idea to shock the area with ice or ice water, as this can further damage the skin. Just use cool water for the first few minutes, and apply a cold rag to the injured area occasionally. You may also want to use an antibiotic cream or aloe vera cream to protect and calm the area. You might also take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort. With the proper burn treatment, a first-degree burn should heal within a few days.

Burn treatment for a second-degree burn should be handled by a medical professional. If you are suffering a second-degree burn, the skin damage is deeper than that of a first-degree burn. They are often more painful than a first-degree burn, and usually swell. Sweat glands and hair follicles can be damaged with a second-degree burn. Burn treatment for a second-degree burn often includes cooling the burn with water or cold moist cloths, washing the area daily, prescription ointments, and wrapping the area with a bandage or gauze. Any covering on the burn should be changed daily, and the area should be kept clean. Second-degree burns usually take two or three weeks to heal.

Third-degree burn treatment should also be handled by a medical professional. Third-degree burns are highly severe and destroy all the layers of skin. Damaged skin becomes thick and rough and swelled. Third-degree burns may cease to be painful, as the nerve endings may have been destroyed. A burn this serious requires a hospital visit. In the meantime, soaking the burned area in water is the best thing to do until medical attention is available. Third-degree burn treatment may involve skin grafting, and the use of enzymes, water, or surgery to remove the dead skin from the affected area. No one except a medical professional should attempt third-degree burn treatment.