How to Treat Burns


by Tim Faber - Date: 2008-07-17 - Word Count: 485 Share This!

Burns are essentially damage to the skin and tissues, but it is the degree that makes the determination on how it will heal. It is important to know how to treat burns to avoid permanent skin damage or your health.

 

The way burns are treated and the time it takes to get the first treatment is a factor in skin recovery. When a burn occurs, the major thing to do is to cool the area and remove any bacterial that can cause an infection. Three degrees of burns exist. They are first, second, and third with the third being the worst and deepest burn of all.

 

It Really Hurts

 

Burns are very painful at any level and are a normal part of life. Many years ago, the normal procedure was to apply some oil based product such as butter but that was found to make it worse and to damage the area more. The first and best action for a burn is to run cool water over the area to remove the heat and reduce the pain of the area.

 

First And Second Degree Burn Treatment

 

First degree burns are comparable to what you would experience with normal sunburn. The top layer of skin is the part that is affected by this degree. For a first degree burn, simply run cool water over the area and take a painkiller like acetametaphin for the pain. A sunburn relief can be applied to help also.

 

Second degree burns are more damaging and carry more pain with them. This type of burn is usual of a hot water burn and has blistering. It could also be severe sunburn that causes the skin to peel.

 

If the burn is on the face and hands, it is essential to see a physician and not treat it yourself. If the second degree burn is large enough, it can cause the individual to become dehydrated. Again, painkillers and lots of water are recommended.

 

Third Degree Burn Treatment

Third degree burns are never treated at home and require a doctor's care. The skin is not only damaged on the top but through each layer to the tissue below. The pain factor is at zero with a third degree burn because the nerves have been destroyed as a result.

If the third degree burn is in a large enough area of the body, it may require a hospital stay where constant fluids are given and the wound is cleaned and scrubbed regularly. Third degree burns over a major portion of the body can result in death so it is detrimental these patients get to the hospital as soon as possible.

For most burns, either from fire, chemical burns, coming in contact with a hot item, or from sunburn, treatment with skin care formulated to begin the skin healing process is important to alleviate pain and to improve chances of healthy dermal layer growth.

Knowing how to treat burns gives you the first aid for burns that can literally help to save someone's skin.


Related Tags: burns, sunburn treatment, sunburn, sunburn relief, skin burns, how to treat burns, first aid for burns

Former IBM executive and skin care entreprenuer, Tim Faber has acquired, started or invested in over eight companies since 1987 and has been involved in numerous boards and charities, including the SC Philharmonic.

Tim is president and managing partner of a skin care manufacturing and distribution firm outside Athens, GA near Atlanta.

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