What Helps with Burns? What are the Degrees of Burns?

Burns are tissue damage caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or the sun. Burns typically occur accidentally and are classified by degrees, which vary based on burn depth and the affected area. Burns are often painful and require treatment. If left untreated, they can lead to infections and other health issues. With proper and regular treatment, first- and second-degree burns generally heal within 2-3 weeks, though this may vary depending on the person’s age and medications used. As the degree of the burn increases, the healing time may be prolonged. In third-degree burns, physical therapy may be required to maintain joint mobility and improve functions. People with this degree of burn may also show symptoms of depression.

What Are the Degrees of Burns?

Burns are among the types of accidents that can cause both physical and emotional injury. They are classified based on how severely the burn-causing agents penetrate the skin surface. These degrees are as follows:

First-Degree (Superficial) Burns: First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). The affected area is usually red, painful, and blister-free. Long-term tissue damage is rare. A mild sunburn is a common example of this degree.
Second-Degree (Partial-Thickness) Burns: Second-degree burns affect both the epidermis (outer layer of skin) and part of the dermis (second layer of skin). These burns can cause pain, redness, swelling, and blisters.
Third-Degree (Full-Thickness) Burns: In third-degree burns, the epidermis and dermis are severely damaged. Bones, muscles, and tendons may also be affected. These burns can appear white or charred. Due to nerve damage, there is often no pain or a loss of sensation in the area. Third-degree burns can lead to heart rhythm disturbances, dehydration, edema, organ failure, pneumonia, low blood pressure, shock, and even amputation.

What Are the Types of Burns?

Burns affect almost every age group and cause serious injuries. The cause of the burn determines its type. There are various types of burns resulting from thermal, radiation, chemical, and electrical exposure:

Thermal Burns: These are burns caused by heat sources like hot metals, boiling liquids, steam, and flames. These heat sources raise the temperature of the skin and tissue, leading to cell death or burning.
Radiation Burns: These occur due to prolonged exposure to radiation sources, such as ultraviolet rays from the sun or X-rays.
Chemical Burns: These burns result from chemicals commonly found in industrial or household settings, typically from strong acids and alkalis. Occasionally, burns may also be caused by phenol and phosphorus compounds or petroleum products.
Electrical Burns: These are burns caused by electrical currents. They can range from simple burns that require no treatment to severe burns requiring extensive care

What Helps with Burns?

Cooling the burn is one of the most effective ways to relieve pain, such as applying a cold compress or holding the burned area under cool water for 20-30 minutes. This helps alleviate pain and significantly reduces the risk of infection. Other helpful methods for burns include:

Covering the burn with a single layer of clean plastic wrap or bag after cooling it,
Using an appropriate pain reliever to reduce discomfort,
Applying aloe vera gel to keep the burn area moisturized,
Applying an antibiotic cream to the burned area,
Avoiding touching blisters that form on the burned area,
Protecting the burn from sun exposure.

If there is any clothing or cloth over the burn, it should not be removed, and a healthcare professional should be consulted. Attempting to remove it can lead to more serious injuries. Keeping the person warm is also essential. The person's body temperature can be maintained with a blanket, without touching the burn.

For minor burns, treatment or intervention at home may be possible. For more severe burns, it is crucial to see a healthcare professional without attempting to treat the burn area directly. These serious burns include:

Chemical burns,
Large and deep burns,
Charred burns,
Burns on the face, neck, joints (arms, legs), or genital area. In such cases, medical attention should be sought by ambulance or by going to the nearest healthcare facility directly.

How to Reduce Burn Scars?

With proper care and treatment after a burn, scars can be minimized. Scars formed after healing do not disappear entirely, but over time, they fade in color and become less visible. Protecting the area from sun exposure immediately after the burn is crucial. This helps prevent sunburn on the scar, making it less noticeable. Severe burn scars can be reduced as follows:

Laser Treatment
This is one of the most frequently chosen methods to reduce the appearance of burn scars. Although it does not entirely remove the scar, it can improve redness, swelling, tightness, and pigmentation differences in the area, thus alleviating the bothersome appearance. There are three types of laser treatments effective for burns:

Fractional Laser: Used to reduce redness and smooth out the irregular skin texture.
Pulsed Dye Laser: Used to improve redness and inflammation.
Q-Switched Laser: Targets pigments that cause unnatural skin color on burn scars.

Scar Massage
Massaging the scar area, known as scar massage, prevents the scar from hardening and raising. The pressure applied in this massage prevents the formation of scar tissue and prevents it from sticking to the underlying tissue.

Z-Plasty
Z-plasty is a surgical procedure performed by surgeons to reduce the appearance and tightness of scar tissue and shorten the scar length. The goals of this surgical operation are to change the direction of the scar, relieve tension, and make the scar less noticeable. This procedure involves making an incision along the scar and then creating additional incisions across it. These crossing cuts reduce the scar length and stretch

What Not to Do for Burns?

Improper treatment of burns can prolong the healing process and increase scarring. Here are some things to avoid:

Do not expose the burn to sunlight, as sun exposure can prolong healing and make scars more prominent.
Do not apply ice directly on the burn, as it delays healing.
Avoid applying substances like butter, olive oil, or grease on the burn.
The patient’s body temperature is essential. Avoid getting the entire body wet to prevent a drop in body temperature.

If you or someone close to you suffers a burn, the severity can be assessed as described above. In cases of first- and second-degree burns (mild to moderate), initial treatments can be applied before reaching a healthcare facility. However, in the case of third-degree burns, it is recommended to avoid any intervention and go directly to the nearest healthcare center.

Last Updated Date: 17 January 2024

Publication Date: 17 January 2024

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What Helps with Burns? What are the Degrees of Burns?

What Are the Degrees of Burns?

What Are the Types of Burns?

What Helps with Burns?

How to Reduce Burn Scars?

What Not to Do for Burns?

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