Everything You Need To Know About Burn Treatment
Burns are common household injuries for adults and children. Every year, more than 450,000 severe burns occur in the United States. If you experience a severe burn, there is skin damage that causes skin cells in the affected body region to die. Recovery from burns mainly depends on the degree and the cause of injury. If you have a severe burn, emergency burn treatment is essential to prevent further complications and even death.
Levels of Burns
There are three types of burns, namely first, second, or third-degree. The three levels are classified based upon the severity of the injury as follows:
- First-Degree Burn: This burn is mild and only causes local inflammation of the skin in the affected body region. Such a burn is characterized by a mild amount of swelling, redness, and pain.
- Second-Degree Burns: This burn is deeper. Besides experiencing pain, there is severe blistering and inflammation.
- Third-Degree Burns: The burn is intense and affects all skin layers. When it occurs, it may even severely damage your nerves and blood vessels.
Types of Burn Treatment
If you experience a first or second-degree burn, you are most likely to recover without any serious health consequences. However, the third-degree burn can cause death if not treated urgently. Studies show that about 180,000 deaths occur every year globally due to burns.
Burn treatment varies across all three types of burn. In this context, the treatment option recommended by your doctor depends on the severity of your injury.
Here are the most popular treatment options for the three levels of burns:
- First-Degree Burn: Since the burn is mild, you can easily treat it at home. Once the burn occurs, you should run cold water over it. You can also use locally available skincare products, such as antibiotic ointment or aloe vera cream. If the pain is extreme, you should see a doctor for pain medication.
- Second-Degree Burn: This burn is also less severe, and its treatment is more like that of a first-degree burn. If you go to the hospital, the doctor might prescribe painkillers and a stronger antibiotic cream. The treatment goal is to kill bacteria and reduce pain and swelling.
- Third-Degree Burn: This burn is, in most cases, life-threatening and requires hospital admission. Since the skin tissues are severely damaged, the doctor may suggest skin grafting. Instead of antibiotic ointments, intravenous antibiotics are recommended.
Conclusion
If you experience a mild burn, you can easily manage it at home. However, a serious burn can be life-threatening and requires hospitalization. Burn treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury. Contact a company that provides burn treatment for more information.