• Burns are one of the most common

household injuries, especially among

children.
• The term “burn” means more than the
burning sensation associated with this
injury.
• Burns are characterized by severe skin
damage that causes the affected skin
cells to die.
First-degree burns: red, non blistered skin

Second-degree burns: blisters and some thickening of

the skin

Third-degree burns: widespread thickness with a white,

leathery appearance

There are also fourth, fifth, six-degree burns. This type of

burns includes all of the symptoms of a third-degree
burn and also extends beyond the skin into tendons and
bones.
FIRST DEGREE BURN
cause minimal skin damage.
also called “superficial burns” because they affect the
outermost layer of skin.

Signs of a first-degree burn include:

• Redness
• Minor inflammation, or swelling
• Pain
• Dry, peeling skin occurs as the burn heals

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: disappear once the skin cells shed.

First-degree burns usually heal within 7 to 10 days without
scarring.
 Treatments for a first-degree burn
include:
Soaking the wound in cool water for five
minutes or longer taking acetaminophen
or ibuprofen for pain relief applying
lidocaine (an anaesthetic) with aloe Vera
gel or cream to soothe the skin using an
antibiotic ointment and loose gauze to
protect the affected area
- more serious because the damage extends beyond the top
layer of skin. This type burn causes the skin to blister and
become extremely red and sore.

Some blisters pop open, giving the burn a wet or weeping

appearance. Over time, thick, soft, scab-like tissue called
fibrinous exudate may develop over the wound.

Due to the delicate nature of these wounds, keeping the

area clean and bandaging it properly is required to prevent
infection. This also helps the burn heal quicker.
Some second-degree burns take longer than three
weeks to heal, but most heal within two to three weeks
without scarring, but often with pigment changes to
the skin.

The worse the blisters are, the longer the burn will
take to heal. In some severe cases, skin grafting is
required to fix the damage. Skin grafting takes healthy
skin from another area of the body and moves it to the
site of the burned skin.
- are the most severe, cause the most damage, extending through
every layer of skin.

There is a misconception that third-degree burns are the most

painful. However, with this type of burn the damage is so extensive
that there may not be any pain because of nerve damage.

Depending on the cause, the symptoms third-degree burns can

exhibit include:

waxy and white color

char
dark brown color
raised and leathery texture
blisters that do not develop
Without surgery, these wounds heal with severe
scarring and contracture. There is no set timeline for
complete spontaneous healing for third-degree burns.

Most people can recover from burns without serious

health consequences, depending on the cause and
degree of injury. More serious burns require
immediate emergency medical care to prevent
complications and death.
• Fourth, fifth, or sixth degree burns exhibit many similar
symptoms to third degree burns, but with a few additional
characteristics. Primarily, these burns result in charring and
loss of function of the affected area.

Charring: Charring is a process where exposure to high heat

burns the hydrogen and oxygen from the skin, leaving a black
substance composed almost entirely of carbon. The presence of
char in a burn is indicative that the burn will require grafting and
leave scars. Charring is possible in third degree burns, but is
more common with deeper burns that have had longer exposure
to the heat source.

Loss of Function: These burns also complete destroy the skin’s

protective capabilities and begin to damage the underlying
muscle. The body does not regrow muscle or bone in the same
manner that it regrows skin. Damage to the muscle often requires
excision and leads to long-term loss of function of the affected
area. Loss of function generally leads to amputation.
The first priority is getting the patient stabilized and rehydrated. Burn
victims are often dehydrated because of the amount of fluids lost while
sustaining the burn and from the wound afterwards. Liquids are usually
administered intravenously to get them into the body quickly. Medical
staffs also work to stabilize the patient and ensure proper circulation and
breathing.

While being stabilized, it is common for the patient to begin receiving

antibiotics to prevent infection. Infection is one of the most common
complications and can lead to a variety of complications if not treated.
Depending on the patient’s condition and the location of the burn,
antibiotics are administered orally, intravenously, topically at the site of
the burn injury.

While the burn itself may not be painful, patients are often given pain
medication because treatment can be painful. Once a patient has been
stabilized, excision can begin. Excision, also called debridement, is the
process of removing dead and damaged skin from the burn injury. The
dead skin is highly susceptible to infection and prevents the body from
healing.
Amputation is nearly always required for burns this deep.
Amputation is the process of removing part or all of an
extremity. Amputation allows medical staffs to control pain
and disease. Because these burns cause loss of function,
amputation often removes tissue that would not be
recoverable in anyhow.

Finally, skin grafts are used to begin the process of re-

growing skin in the burned area. The body cannot replace
the skin on its own because these burns completely destroy
all three layers of the skin, so healthy skin is surgically
removed from other areas of the body. If there is not
sufficient healthy skin available on the victim, other forms
of grafting may need to be used while the patient’s own
skin grafts are grown in a lab.
• Thermal Burns
• Radiation Burns
• Chemical Burns
• Electrical Burns
• Friction Burns
A type of burn that resulting from
making contact with heated object.

Scalds are the most common type of

thermal burns suffered by children but
for adults, thermal burns are most
commonly caused by fire.
Causes of thermal burn
Boiling water
Steam
Hot cooking
Fire
Heated appliances (e.g. Iron)
Hot object
It is caused by exposure or
contact with flame, hot liquids,
semi liquids, semi solids or hot
object.

Treatment for thermal depends on

the location and severity of the
burn.
 Put out any fire or flames and stop contact with the
hot or heated source.
 Use cold water to cool the burned area.
 Do not use ice, as it may further damage the skin
 For mild burns, you can find pain relief by applying a
cool, wet compress or taking acetaminophine or
ibuprofen as directed on the bottle, later, burn cream
and ointment can help those burn heal
 For more severe burn, loosely apply a sterile
bandage or clean cloth to the burned area
 Do not remove part of your skin or pop blister
 Seek medical attention for further treatment.
Is the burn that result from
electricity passing through the
body causing rapid injury.

It happens when the body

come in contact with an
electric current
 A burn may appear on your skin if an electric runs
through your body.
 These burn can be treated like a thermal or Chemical
burn. However, if you come in contact with an electric
current, you should seek emergency medical
attention immediately.
 Electricity can affect internal tissues and muscles
and have long term negative effect on your health.
 Electrical burn may differ that they cause much more
sub-dermal damage
 In extreme cases, electricity can cause shock to the
brain, strain to the heart and injury to the other
organs.
Touching or grasping
electrically live objects
Short circuiting
Inserting fingers into electrical
sockets
Falling into electrified water
A chemical burn is irritation
and destruction of human
tissue caused by exposure to
a chemical. It can occur in
the home, at work or school,
or as a result of accident or
assault.
You may receive a chemical burn if
your skin and/or eyes come in
contact with a harsh irritant, such
as acid. Substances that cause
chemical burns include:
Chlorine
Ammonia
Bleach
Battery Acid
Strong or harsh cleaners
 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Redness, irritation, or burning at the
site
Pain or numbness at the site
Formation of blisters or black dead
skin at the site
Vision changes if the chemical gets
into the eyes
Cough or shortness of breath
Vomiting
Take these steps if you have been burned by a
chemical:
Rinse the burned area under running water for
at least 10 minutes. if the chemical has entered
your eye, rinse your eye for about 20 minutes to
remove traces of the chemical. Then go to the
hospital if the burn is:
Larger than three inches
On your face, hands, feet, groin, or buttocks
Still very painful after taking OTC pain
medication
On a major joint, like the knee.
Secure all chemicals.
People should always follow
directions and safety
precautions.
Wear safety gloves clothing
and eye protection.
It is a damage to the skin or other
biological tissue as an effect of
radiation.
Cancer patients undergoing radiation
therapy may suffer from an injury
known as radiation burn.
High-energy radiation is used to kill
cancerous cells and when it passes
through the body skin cells may be
damaged.
RADIATION DERMATITIS - also known as radiodermatitis. It
is a skin disease associated with prolonged exposure to
ionizing radiation. Radiation dermatitis occurs to the
patients receiving radiation therapy, with or without
chemotherapy.

ACUTE RADIODERMATITIS – occurs when an “erythema

dose” of ionizing radiation is given to the skin. It will be
visible erythema appears up to 24 hours after.

CHRONIC RADIODERMATITIS – occurs with chronic

exposure to “”sub-erythema” doses of ionizing radiation
over a prolonged period.
 CARE FOR RADIATION BURNS
INCLUDES:

Cleaning and moisturizing wounds

Avoiding sunlight
Wearing loose clothing or bandages
over the wound
You may also have internal
complications and should seek medical
treatment immediately.
FRICTION BURNS
 Gently apply pressure to the wound to help stop any bleeding.
 Once bleeding stops, rinse the wound with plain water and pat
the area dry with a cloth. Make sure to remove any dirt, grass,
or debris from the sore. It maybe difficult to clean a turf burn
due to pain, this process is necessary to avoid infections. Take
your time and don’t apply too much pressure.
 Apply an anti-septic ointment to the wound. Aloe vera can
reduce inflammation and provide a cooling sensation.
 You may want to cover the abrasion with a hydrogel dressing
and a sterile gauze.
 Continue to apply antiseptic ointment and a new bandage daily
until the abrasion heals.
The best home remedies for burns
Mild burns typically take around a week or two to completely heal and usually don’t cause
scarring. The goal of burn treatment is to reduce pain, prevent infections, and heal the skin
faster.

1. Cool water
The first thing you should do when you get a minor burn is run cool (not cold) water over the
burn area for about 20 minutes. Then wash the burned area with mild soap and water.

2. Cool compresses
A cool compress or clean wet cloth placed over the burn area helps relieve pain and swelling.
You can apply the compress in 5- to 15-minute intervals. Try not to use excessively cold
compresses because they may irritate the burn more.

3. Antibiotic ointments
Antibiotic ointments and creams help prevent infections. Apply an antibacterial ointment like
Bacitracin or Neosporin to your burn and cover with cling film or a sterile, non-fluffy dressing
or cloth.

4. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is often touted as the “burn plant.” Studies show evidence that aloe vera is
effective in healing first- to second-degree burns. Aloe is anti-inflammatory, promotes
circulation, and inhibits the growth of bacteria.a
Apply a layer of pure aloe vera gel taken from the leaf of an aloe vera plant
directly to the affected area. If you buy aloe vera in a store, make sure it contains
a high percentage of aloe vera and avoid products that have additives, especially
coloring and perfumes.

5. Honey
Honey just got sweeter. Apart from its delicious taste, honey may help heal a
minor burn when applied topically. Honey is an anti-inflammatory and naturally
anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

6. Reducing sun exposure

Do your best to avoid exposing the burn to direct sunlight. The burned skin will be
very sensitive to the sun. Keep it covered with clothing.

7. Don’t pop your blisters

As tempting as it may be, leave your blisters alone. Bursting a blister yourself can
lead to infection. If you’re worried about blisters that have formed due to your
burn, see a medical professional.

8. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever

If you have pain, take an OTC pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or
naproxen (Aleve). Be sure to read the label for the correct dosage.
Remedies to stay away from Bizarre home remedies and old wives’ tales
for treating burns are widespread, but not everything your grandma tells
you to do is good for you. The following common home burn remedies
should be avoided:

1. Butter
Don’t use butter on a burn. There’s little to no evidence supporting the
effectiveness of butter as a burn remedy. On top of that, it may actually
make your burn worse. Butter retains heat and also may be harboring
harmful bacteria that can infect the burned skin. Save your butter for
your bread.

2. Oils
Contrary to popular belief, coconut oil does not heal everything. For the
same reason why you shouldn’t apply butter to your burns, oils, such as
coconut oil, olive oil, and cooking oils, hold heat in and can even cause
the skin to continue to burn.
Lavender oil is reported to help heal burns, but there is little published
evidence to support this claim. Studies conducted in rats, for example,
have not shown any benefit of using lavender oil to heal a burn.

3. Egg whites
Another folk tale, uncooked egg whites carry a risk of bacterial
infection and shouldn’t be placed on a burn. Eggs can also cause an
allergic reaction.

4. Toothpaste
Never apply toothpaste to a burn. This is another folk tale with no
evidence to back it up. Toothpaste could irritate the burn and create a
more favorable environment for infection. Toothpaste isn’t sterile.

5. Ice
• Ice and very cold water can actually irritate your burn area more. Ice
may even cause a cold burn if used improperly