How to treat a burn wound. How to treat burns at home

A burn is the second most common pathology among mechanical injuries to the skin. More often than not, burns occur only through cuts and abrasions. The most susceptible to this type of defeat are young children, whose self-preservation instinct is not sufficiently developed, and they cannot account for their actions, despite the serious danger of some children's games.

Types of burns

All burns can be classified according to several parameters (this is necessary in order to understand what kind of assistance should be provided to the victim and how high the risk of possible complications is).

Due to their occurrence, burns are divided into thermal (arising as a result of exposure to high temperatures on the layers of the epidermis) and chemical, which occur due to careless handling of chemicals, industrial poisons, acids, alkalis and other substances hazardous to human health.

Burns can also be divided into domestic and industrial. Household burns occur mainly at home, for example, when cooking or ironing clothes. This type of burn most often does not pose a serious danger, since it does not penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and does not affect muscle fibers.

Industrial burns have more serious consequences, as they occur as a result of contact with hazardous substances used in the chemical industry. Such damage is characterized by a high degree of damage to the deep layers and a slow period of recovery and healing.

Degrees of burns

There are four degrees of burns in total.

First degree. The mildest degree of thermal damage to the skin, in which damage to the upper layers of the epidermis occurs. First stage burns are characterized by redness of the burned area. Often this is the only sign that can be seen visually. In very rare cases, blisters may be added to the redness, but they are small in size and located around the sore spot.

Second degree. The deeper layers of the skin are damaged, as a result of which severe swelling at the burn site and swelling of the affected area can be observed. Second degree burns are always accompanied by the formation of blisters that are filled with a clear liquid. If you know how to treat a burn, the consequences of such damage will be minimal, and the skin will heal and recover within 10-14 days.

Third degree. This degree can be of two types - A and B. With type A, part of the skin can be preserved, so tissue regeneration occurs faster. With type B, complete tissue death (necrosis) or destruction of the skin at the burn site occurs. Such wounds heal extremely slowly, and recovery is very difficult.

Fourth degree. It is a complete charring of the skin, penetrating into the muscle tissue and affecting the bone corset. A person can get such burns during a fire or electric shock. 3rd and 4th degree burns can only be treated in a hospital and require the use of potent medications.

When should you see a doctor?

Treatment of burns at home is only possible if the degree of damage does not exceed the second. There are absolute indications for visiting the surgical department of a hospital. These include:

  • damage to a large area of ​​skin (more than 10-15 cm in area);
  • opened blisters (possible bacterial infection, which will lead to suppuration of the wound);
  • age up to 7 years;
  • there are signs of grade 3 and 4 damage.

First aid for burns

It is necessary to remember and strictly follow the algorithm of actions that can be used to help the victim at home before the ambulance arrives (if necessary) or goes to the doctor.

  • Eliminate contact with the source of thermal radiation.
  • Apply ice to the affected area (be sure to be dry!) ​​or place the burned area under running water.
  • Treat intact skin around the burn (to eliminate pathogens that can penetrate the burn cavity and cause infection). To do this, you need to use medical alcohol or any antiseptic (for example, Fukortsin). When processing, you need to carefully ensure that the solution used does not get on the burn site.
  • Remove areas of dead skin from the burn wound. This can be done at home using an isotonic sodium chloride solution. A small amount of the solution should be applied to a piece of gauze (the use of cotton pads and pads is strictly prohibited) and gently wipe the burn area.

Only after completing all these measures can you proceed to applying medicinal ointments or other medicinal formulations.

Preparations for the treatment of burns

Ointments and creams. Most often used to treat household burns of the first and second degree. The concentration of active ingredients in them is much lower than in gels, so they are suitable only for mild cases when a small area of ​​skin is affected. For treatment at home use:

  • "Levomekol". The most famous remedy that has proven its effectiveness in the fight against burns and other damage to the epidermis. It has bactericidal and analgesic properties, allowing you to restore the integrity of the skin, eliminate pain and disinfect the wound.
  • "Panthenol" ("D-Panthenol", "Dexpanthenol", "Bepanten"). Any products based on panthenol have high regenerative properties, so their use helps to cope with burns much faster. They effectively restore the structure of damaged cells and promote renewal at the cellular level.
  • "Povidone-Iodine." Iodine-based ointment disinfects the burn wound and helps improve the recovery and healing process, as well as avoid the appearance of large scars and scars.
  • "Rescuer" The product, produced in the form of a balm, effectively restores the protective properties of skin cells, activates local immunity and accelerates recovery.

Gels. They are more effective in providing anti-burn therapy compared to ointments, therefore they are used for serious injuries and blistering. At home, gels help to cope with several tasks at once:

  • improve tissue regeneration;
  • have an analgesic effect;
  • disinfect the surface of the burn, preventing the penetration of pathogenic bacteria;
  • heals the skin at the level of the deep layers of the epidermis.

The most effective in treating 1st and 2nd degree burns are the medical gels “Apollo”, “Actovegin”, “Ozhogov.Net”.

Sprays. This dosage form allows you to avoid painful sensations. Which can occur upon contact with the skin during treatment with ointments or creams. Sprays and aerosols with anti-burn medications are expensive, but they significantly reduce the patient’s suffering. This is especially important for parents who do not know how to treat a burn in order to minimize pain in the child. For children and adults, Olazol, Bepanten in the form of a spray, and Panthenol will be an excellent choice.

Bandages. An effective remedy that allows you to speed up wound healing and avoid negative consequences in the form of scars and deep scars. Pharmacies sell special anti-burn dressings impregnated with a local antiseptic. The most effective of them:

  • "Branolind N";
  • "Paul Hartman";
  • "VitaVallis".

Treatment of burns with traditional methods

It is worth mentioning right away that any of the recipes given below can only be used with the permission of a doctor, despite the effectiveness and high effectiveness of these methods. Important! It is prohibited to treat burn wounds with ointments and creams containing fatty oils (with the exception of sea buckthorn and St. John's wort).

  • Apply sea buckthorn oil to the burn site (you can use a syringe or pipette), apply a gauze bandage. Change 2-3 times a day.
  • Decoction of linden flowers. Use for medicinal lotions or to wash wounds between bandage changes.
  • Cabbage. Apply the cabbage leaf, cleared of dirt, to the burn. Wait until the leaf warms up, then moisten it with cold water and put it back on the wound.
  • Ointment with calendula. To prepare it, calendula tincture must be mixed with medical Vaseline (if this is not available, then ordinary cosmetic one will do) in equal proportions. Apply to the sore spot 2-3 times a day.

Any home treatment methods for burns should only be used after consulting a doctor. The doctor needs to examine the wound, determine the extent of the damage and assess the risk of possible complications. Only after this is self-treatment allowed. The only exceptions are minor burns, in which the only sign of damage is mild swelling and redness. Such burns disappear without a trace on the second or third day of treatment, provided first aid is provided correctly.


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Burns are not uncommon among household injuries. It is useful to keep first aid supplies in your first aid kit for minor injuries. Not everyone knows how to treat a burn quickly and correctly, so as not to harm the victim, reduce pain, and eliminate aggressive factors. The nature of treatment and the further recovery of a loved one depend on timely measures of assistance.

Specifics of burn injury

Burns are tissue damage caused by high or low temperatures or aggressive chemicals. The severity of the injury depends on the depth of tissue damage. An important feature of a burn is the development of pathology after the elimination of the aggressive factor. So, for example, if you remove your hand from a hot iron, the destruction of tissue will not immediately stop.

Correctly performed wound treatment will lead to a speedy suspension of the pathological process.

Types and degrees of damage

Before starting wound treatment, it is important to establish the type and extent of damage.

A burn injury is formed under the influence of:

  • low or high temperature - frost or, conversely, heat, flame, boiling water, hot substance;
  • chemicals - acids, alkalis, flammable mixtures, salts of heavy metals;
  • electricity - electric shock from contact with exposed wires, faulty electrical appliances;
  • ionizing radiation, ultraviolet.

Household injuries occur from hot steam, hot electric stoves, irons, and overturned dishes with boiling water. In production, burns often occur when welders work from hot metal particles or when working with mechanical equipment.

The depth of damage varies:

  1. damage to the upper layers of the epidermis - the skin turns red, swelling of the damaged area occurs, and pain occurs;
  2. violation of the deeper layers of the skin - blisters form, acute pain, swelling, severe redness occur;
  3. destruction in depth affects muscle and nerve fibers, the upper layer of subcutaneous tissue - a scab is formed in the form of a dry crust, the wound causes unbearable pain, and there is a risk of loss of consciousness;
  4. charring of skin layers, muscle tissue, damage to bones and internal organs. Due to the death of nerve endings, a person may not feel pain.


Severe grade 3-4 injuries, even with a small area of ​​damage, require urgent assistance from specialists and emergency treatment in a hospital setting. Wrong actions can threaten the life of the victim. Treatment of burns at home is allowed only after injuries of 1-2 degrees. The efficiency and consistency of assistance measures has a significant impact on the effectiveness of further treatment and recovery.

First aid algorithm

Treatment of wounds immediately after injury depends on the nature of the injury. The victim, first of all, should be freed from the aggressive influence of the damaging factor.

Thermal burns

The peculiarity of the thermal reaction is that after removing the source of temperature exposure, cell destruction continues until the tissues gradually cool. The faster the temperature is reduced, the smaller the damage area will be.


The burn site should be washed and cooled with running water at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. There are special gels for burns that eliminate tissue heating. When using gels, water is no longer required. After cooling, pain and burning decrease. Do not mix products for the treatment and treatment of burns. To the question of how to wash a burn, we can add that sprays, creams, and ointments are intended for subsequent stages after first aid.

If clothing is stuck to the burn site, the area is wetted along with it. If necessary, a piece of tissue is cut off.

It is strictly forbidden to tear off a flap from a wound; you should consult a doctor to treat a burn injury.

If blisters, characteristic of a second-degree burn, appear, an antiseptic, for example, furatsilin, is applied after cooling. Further, the use of special aerosols that form a protective film is allowed. It is not necessary to apply a bandage; it is better to leave the burn open. But if the wound bothers the injured child or is located in an area of ​​the body that can be further injured, then the affected area can be covered with a sterile napkin and a loose bandage applied.

Chemical damage

The formation of wounds occurs, most often, under the influence of alkalis and acids, and preparations containing them. To stop the destructive effect, you need to quickly remove the remaining reagent from the victim’s skin. Gels and wipes are not suitable in this case. Understanding how to properly treat a burn helps you act in a targeted manner. The wound area should be rinsed under running water for at least 20-30 minutes. The effects of caustic alkali can be neutralized by applying soap foam and a solution of boric acid.

Acid damage should also be washed with water for at least 20 minutes, then treated with a baking soda solution.

Burns from sulfuric acid or quicklime require special attention. Contact with water only aggravates the condition of the wound, as it intensifies the chemical reaction.

Chemical burns are especially difficult to treat and take a long time to heal. Seeing a doctor is mandatory. If the composition of a substance with an aggressive effect that caused a burn remains unknown, then it is recommended not to look for a remedy to treat the burn at home, but to limit yourself to carefully removing the reagent and urgently seeking medical help.

Electrical burns

Unlike thermal and chemical damage to the skin, the danger of electrical damage lies in disruption of the functioning of internal organs. Providing first aid is similar to taking action for thermal injury, but you should visit a doctor afterwards as the effects of the injury do not appear immediately.

Radiation burns

The influence of ultraviolet and ionizing radiation causes dry skin, redness, and blistering. First aid rules include cooling the burn, applying special medications in the form of a spray, gel to reduce pain, burning, and antiseptic treatment.

Error Prevention

Knowing what can be used to treat a burn serves as a prevention of irreparable mistakes, as a result of which you can unintentionally increase the pain and depth of damage after a burn.

The following actions are prohibited when providing assistance:

  • lubricating the wound with an oily cream - the resulting film retains heat, which impedes healing;
  • applying ice directly to the wound to cool the tissue - contact causes vasospasm, increased pain, and there is a risk of infection;
  • treating the injury site with brilliant green and iodine - the wound becomes more extensive;
  • tightly bandaging a burn injury - blood circulation is disrupted, additional damage to areas in the affected area occurs;
  • puncture of blisters - swollen skin retains the protective cover of the wound and protects against infection.

The presence of a bubble in a visible place, not protected from accidental damage, requires contacting medical professionals who will perform an autopsy and appropriate processing under sterile conditions.

Medicines

To treat minor wounds, there is a whole arsenal of products that you can keep in your home medicine cabinet in case you need to help your household.

Aerosol cans have an advantage, since spraying the product without direct contact of hands with the skin protects from causing pain and allows you to evenly and quickly cover the affected area with the medicinal composition. No dressing skills or additional tools or supplies are required. The effect of sprays is short, so you should repeat the procedure 3-4 times during the day.

Aerosols “Panthenol”, “Plastubol”, “Bepantol”, “Acerbin”, “Amprovisol” have proven themselves to be excellent for home use. Spray compositions actively participate in the process of disinfection, pain relief, and epithelial regeneration.

After initial treatment, the condition of the burn wound will tell you whether you can continue to do home treatment or seek medical help from a surgeon.

What to do if a child has a burn

Most often, people get burns at home. Such injuries can be caused by exposure to boiling water, steam, fire and hot objects. In most cases, these injuries can be treated at home on your own; you just need to know how to treat the wound in a given situation and how to do it correctly.

Determination of burn area

The severity of the injury is determined by two criteria - the area of ​​damage and the degree of severity. To determine the area of ​​the burn, you need to use a simple rule: The palm makes up 1% of the human body area. Thus, by comparing the size of the injury with the size of the victim’s palm, the percentage of damage can be determined.

There are four types of burns based on severity:

  • First degree burn: the skin turns red, swelling appears, and small blisters with transparent contents may appear;
  • II degree: after a burn, redness and swelling, blisters appear on the skin, and a thin scab begins to form;
  • III degree: deep burn, penetrating to the muscles and bones, covered with a scab;
  • IV degree: with such an injury, the affected area is charred.

What burns can you treat at home yourself?

To take appropriate action, you first need to determine the severity of the injury. If you're dealing with a thermal skin injury rather than a chemical or eye burn, this is fairly easy to do.

On your own at home, you can treat minor superficial injuries of a small area without infection - first and second degree burns, not exceeding 1% of the body area in size.

The exception is burns of the face, hands, feet and genitals. In such cases, the maximum size of the lesion that can be treated at home is about the size of a coin.

You should definitely consult a doctor if alarming symptoms appear:

  • the edges of the wound are red and swollen;
  • purulent contents are separated from it;
  • body temperature rises;
  • chills appear;
  • there is severe pain in the wound.

Skin care products after burns

The following will help you treat a burn at home:

  • water for initial rinsing and cooling of the injury;
  • sodium chloride solution (saline) is another option for washing the wound;
  • alcohol, iodine or brilliant green to treat the skin around the burn;
  • baking soda - you can mix it in water and apply the resulting solution to the wound;
  • chlorhexidine, furatsilin and other antiseptics for wetting a napkin that covers a burn;
  • gels “Solcoseryl”, “Levomekol”, “Panthenol”, “Povidone-iodine”, “Apollo”, “Ozhogov.Net”, which can be used to lubricate a burn to disinfect and anesthetize the wound and accelerate healing;
  • painkillers: aspirin, ketoprofen and other NSAIDs, as well as drugs containing diphenhydramine.

During the recovery stage, to speed up the regeneration process you can use:

  • gels, ointments and creams “Solcoseryl”, “Levomekol”, “Panthenol”, “Povidone-iodine”, “Apollo”, “Ozhogov.Net”, balm “Rescuer”;
  • a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide for treating napkins and bandages;
  • sea ​​buckthorn oil or vitamin E in oil solution;
  • fat-soluble vitamins A and E for oral administration.

You may also need bandages, gauze swabs, scissors, adhesive tape, and sterile medical gloves.

When providing first aid after a burn, you should not apply oils and creams to the skin - such products are made on a fat basis, so they have strong heat-retaining properties. In addition, these drugs prevent the access of air, as a result, infiltrate will accumulate in the wound.

Ointments and creams are best used in the later stages of treatment of thermal injuries, when it is necessary to speed up the restoration of the skin and subcutaneous tissues after a burn. In contrast, the gel is made on a hydrophilic basis, it absorbs water well and does not contain fat. This drug is best suited for the initial treatment of burns.

If the injury is very painful, disinfectant and recovery-accelerating drugs in the form of sprays can be used for its initial treatment and subsequent care. In this case, the discomfort when applying the product will be minimal.

First aid for burns

A simple way to provide first aid after a burn:

  • if necessary, remove remnants of clothing that are not fixed in the wound;
  • hold the damaged area of ​​the body in a container with cold water or under running water for 10-15 minutes;
  • treat intact skin around the burn with alcohol, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or other disinfectant;
  • Apply one of the above listed anti-burn agents in the form of a gel to the affected area and apply a sterile bandage of gauze and bandage.

It is not necessary to apply a bandage to first-degree burns - you can simply apply the product to the injured skin, and then periodically repeat this procedure until the wound heals.

It is impossible to forcefully tear off the burnt remains of clothing directly from damaged skin, as this will aggravate the situation. Treating a burn with cold water will reduce the area and depth of tissue damage and improve blood circulation in the damaged area. It is better not to use ice for cooling to avoid frostbite.

If the wound becomes infected, inflammation and suppuration of the burn site will begin. This condition is accompanied by fever, chills and general weakness. The process of tissue restoration after a burn in this case will be long, and after healing of the injury, large and clearly visible scars and cicatrices may remain.

You cannot use cotton wool when applying bandages, or glue the patch directly onto the affected area - it can only be used to secure the bandage, placing it on healthy, undamaged tissue. Applying cotton wool or adhesive tape over the burn will only make the situation worse and prevent a quick recovery.

Skin restoration after a burn

If you know how to treat a burn at home and how to use these products, you can always provide first aid to the victim. However, wound care is also very important during the recovery stage after injury - this is necessary for disinfection and accelerating tissue recovery. Dressing the burn site or applying topical medications without applying a bandage should be done 1-2 times a day.

To treat the wound in this case, you must:

  • wear sterile medical gloves or treat your hands with antiseptic;
  • remove the old bandage - if it is stuck to the burn site, moisten it with hydrogen peroxide and wait until the napkin and bandage are well soaked, and then carefully separate them;
  • apply ointment, gel, cream or balm to the wound to disinfect and accelerate healing;
  • Apply a sterile bandage on top.

It must be borne in mind that treating even a minor burn at home on your own does not always bring good results. If, after providing first aid and using over-the-counter medications, inflammation or suppuration occurs, you should consult a doctor who can choose an effective course of treatment.

A burn is one of the most common injuries, and children especially often suffer from it. It is important to know how to treat a wound in such a situation, and to always have first aid for burns in your home medicine cabinet. Thanks to quickly provided first aid, you can reduce the volume of affected tissue, avoid infection and suppuration, and proper care of the burn site will help speed up skin restoration in the future.

Skin damage from exposure to heat, chemicals or electricity is a common injury in adults and children. The key to successful treatment is treating the wound immediately after receiving it. The correct selection of medications minimizes possible consequences in the form of long healing or the appearance of scars.

Burns can be caused by high or low temperatures, concentrated chemicals or electricity. According to WHO, thermal injuries account for about 6% of all injuries. Most often, the skin of the hands is damaged, and much less often the mucous membranes of the mouth, esophagus and stomach. You can also get burned by a plant - or. In an apartment, you can inadvertently douse yourself with boiling water, get burned by steam, or simply touch a hot iron with your fingers. Burn injuries are not uncommon at work - or when working with mechanical devices.

The depth of skin damage, and possibly the patient’s life, depends on how quickly first aid is provided for a burn.

What to do if you receive thermal damage:

  1. Stop the impact of the traumatic factor. The sooner you do it, the less depth and extent of damage will be.
  2. Reduce the temperature of damaged areas. Apply a cooling agent to the affected area. An ice pack and a cold compress applied for 10-15 minutes will do the job.
  3. Only a doctor should remove or cut off clothing covering the affected parts of the body. Next, apply an aseptic bandage. If the face or perineum is injured, apply Vaseline and leave without a bandage.

With radiation burns, the skin is injured due to the action of ultraviolet or ionizing radiation. When damaged, the coverings on the leg or arm turn red, become dry and may become blistered. It is necessary to cool the skin, apply special products in the form of a spray or cream (Panthenol, Levomekol, Rescuer).

An electrical burn is dangerous because, in addition to the dermis, it affects the functioning of internal organs. The algorithm for providing emergency care is similar to that for thermal injury. In case of electric shock, medical supervision is necessary - negative consequences may not manifest themselves immediately.

After a chemical burn that occurs upon contact with acids or alkalis, it is necessary to remove the traumatic reagent from the body. For a quarter of an hour, you need to rinse the affected surface with cool water, except in cases where a person has been burned with sulfuric acid or quicklime. The interaction of water and these substances will only worsen the wound.

How to treat at home

At home, local treatment of 1st and 2nd degree burns is possible with the help of medications or using traditional medicine.

Medicines

The arsenal of medications aimed at self-treatment of thermal injuries is quite wide. The first aid kit can be replenished with aerosols, creams, ointments and gels, the use of which will alleviate the patient’s condition and speed up recovery:

  • Panthenol. Used immediately after injury. Dexpanthenol in the drug will help soothe the skin at the site of damage and accelerate its regeneration.
  • Olazol. The aerosol contains the antiseptic chloramphenicol, which also has an antistatic effect. The drug is well absorbed and has local analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
  • Furaplast. The perchlorovinyl resin in its composition forms a protective film at the site of damage. The antiseptic effect of the drug is due to furatsilin. Furaplast does not allow the skin to breathe, and is not used for inflammation and suppuration.
  • Solcoseryl. Solcoseryl gel or ointment is applied to the skin pre-treated with an antiseptic. The drug accelerates the metabolism of epithelial cells, improves regeneration due to the cattle blood extract included in its composition.
  • Bepanten. The main components of the ointment - dexpanthenol and vitamin B5 - accelerate blood circulation and stimulate cell regeneration.

Traditional methods

Folk remedies will help speed up healing and treat a burn wound at home:

  • cabbage leaves and grated potatoes will help relieve swelling at the site of injury and have an analgesic effect;
  • compresses made from black or green tea improve blood circulation and accelerate tissue regeneration;
  • washed and crushed plantain leaves are squeezed out and compresses are made from the resulting juice;
  • an aloe leaf, cut lengthwise, is applied to the burned area;
  • oak bark (40 g) can be poured with a glass of boiling water, after 10 minutes of boiling, cool and strain. The resulting decoction is used for lotions.

What not to do

There are many traditional and folk medicine that will alleviate the condition of the victim. When trying to help the victim, remember what not to do:

  • Do not treat the burn surface with oils. The fatty film that forms on the surface of the skin will not allow air to pass through and will not allow the burn site to cool;
  • do not sprinkle the wound surface with bulk products (soda, talc, flour) - this is a possible cause of inflammation and suppuration;

Never puncture the resulting blisters - if they burst, they can become an entry point for infection.

Treatment of wounds during healing

To speed up the healing of blisters and prevent the formation of scars, you need to monitor the wound surface and treat the burn surface with special products at home.

Having previously diluted a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide with water, you can apply a bandage to the wound for 10 minutes. Continue for several days. Alcohol products are not used.

Instead of peroxide, Chlorhexidine is also used for compresses on the wound area.

Applying brilliant green, iodine, 5% solution of potassium permanganate or furatsilin solution to the area around the wound will help reduce the possibility of infection.

After the first manifestations of the burn have subsided, antiseptic ointments (Vishnevsky ointment, Levomekol, Spasatel) are applied to the wound.

After your doctor's approval, you can use sea buckthorn oil or an oil solution of vitamin E to speed up wound healing.

A napkin moistened with novocaine eliminates the pain of the wound.

Remember that treatment at home is only possible for I and II degree burns and only after consultation with a doctor. For deeper and more severe lesions, it is necessary to go to the hospital for serious medical or surgical treatment.

Skin burns in everyday life are a fairly common phenomenon that everyone has encountered. But, unfortunately, even at home, using steam, boiling water or other chemicals, or objects that have a high temperature, you can get damage to the skin of varying degrees of severity. As a result of personal negligence or a combination of circumstances, a wound forms on the skin, which must be properly treated in order for the skin to recover faster and to avoid any complications. How to do this, what medications to use, what needs to be done to make the recovery process as easy and quick as possible, is described in detail in this article.

What types of burns are there?

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The classification of burns has several characteristics by which they differ from each other. Depending on the cause of the skin damage, burns can be thermal or chemical. In the first case, exposure to high temperatures is associated with skin contact with hot water or any other liquid, steam, hot objects, as well as prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. In the second, it is contact with the skin of chemical reagents.

At home, thermal burns most often occur, although chemical burns also occur (when acetic acid or alkalis come into contact with the skin).

Burns are also classified according to the severity of the injury. There are three degrees in total; in some classifications four can be found. If in case of I and II it is possible to treat at home, then severe cases (I and VI) require treatment exclusively in a hospital, since in case of deep and extensive skin lesions a partial or complete skin transplant is required.

Treatment of chemical burns should also be carried out only by medical personnel in a hospital setting.

Therefore, before starting self-treatment of wounds after burns, you need to do the following:

  • visually assess the extent of damage;
  • find out the cause of the burn;
  • provide first aid (remove remnants of clothing, rinse the damaged area with cold running water for at least fifteen minutes, apply a loose sterile bandage, take painkillers if necessary);
  • In case of chemical (any degree) and severe damage to the skin under the influence of high temperatures, immediately seek medical help.

How to treat wounds for 1st and 2nd degree burns

It is important to provide first aid immediately after injury. However, this must be done correctly. Remember, no vegetable oils or fats of animal origin can be used, since when they get on the wound, they create a film there and under it the high temperature remains and tissue injury continues. You should also not use alcohol-containing substances. The main assistant in the first minutes after injury is cold running water or water collected in a container. It allows you to reduce the temperature at the burn site and pain.

For first-degree burns, it takes a total of three to four days for the skin to recover. As a rule, with such an injury, the damaged area turns red, swells a little, and in rare cases, blisters appear.

The second degree is characterized by a more pronounced manifestation: redness, swelling, numerous blisters, including self-opening ones.

Remember a few important rules:

  • First of all, cool the burn;
  • wash with an antiseptic solution without alcohol (Chlorhexidine);
  • treat with anti-burn spray or ointment (Panthenol, Olazol);
  • apply a loose sterile bandage (change every four hours).

In cases where burns cause blisters to open on their own, such a wound cannot be cooled with cold running water. In this case, you should rinse it with an antiseptic solution, then apply a sterile bandage, and place an ice pack on top of it. If possible, it is best to go to a medical facility for initial treatment of such a burn wound.

Let us dwell in more detail on the treatment of burn wounds with blisters. Most often they occur with second-degree burns, and if the area of ​​the damaged skin area is less than ten percent, then you can treat it yourself. To do this, after antiseptic treatment of the wound, a thin layer of Solcoseryl gel is applied to the burn area with blisters. It does not contain fats, which is very important. Therefore, the wound heals well. After applying the drug, a sterile bandage is applied to the damaged area. As the wound heals, when the blisters begin to dry out a little, use Solcoseryl ointment.

Levomekol is considered one of the effective drugs for burns. This is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent, thanks to which purulent processes can be avoided and the restoration of damaged tissues can be accelerated. It is applied to the wound once a day.

In the first days, immediately after a burn, you can use Olazol aerosol. In addition to antibacterial and healing effects, it has a good analgesic effect. It can be used up to four times a day.

Panthenol spray is also an indispensable assistant in the treatment of wounds after burns.

For thermal burns of the first and second degree, some traditional methods of treatment can be used, but their choice should be deliberate and not contradict the general rules that were outlined above. These can be lotions made from raw eggs, compresses from aloe pulp or raw grated potatoes. But, you need to remember that any folk remedies are good in combination with medical ones.

And so, the main algorithm of actions when treating wounds after a burn:

  • washing with an antiseptic;
  • use of medications (gels, sprays, ointments, folk remedies);
  • applying a sterile dressing.

Skillful actions in providing first aid for burns and their further treatment can avoid complications and speed up the recovery process.

Take care of yourself, many household thermal injuries can be avoided in most cases. Stay healthy.