Finding an Alternative Treatment for Burns

Burns are one for the top three every-day injuries sustained by humans. The severity of a burn can vary considerably from a tiny and insignificant burn to a major burn that could result in death or permanent disability.

There are different ways to categorise a burn; the cause or type of the burn, the depth of the burn and the size of the area affected. Each of these are broken down as follows:

There are four types (causes) of a burn which are: Radiation Burns which includes such things as sunburn and X-ray burns. Thermal Burns are caused by exposure to fire, hot liquids or hot objects and gasses. Thermal burns are extremely common and are probably the most frequently treated in accident and emergency departments. There are also Chemical and Electrical Burns, both of which are quite self explanatory. A Chemical Burn occurs when the skin comes into contact with corrosive substance, such as a strong acid like hydrofluoric acid. Electrical Burns occur when an electrical current and the heat it generates, makes contact with the skin. As the electrical current has to travel, it is likely to exit at another point of the body, it results in entrance and exit wounds with internal burn damage between the two.

The severity and depth of a burn can be categorised in one of the ‘three degrees’. You will be familiar with terminology first, second or third burns when talking about a burn injury, but another way of describing these are superficial, partial thickness and full thickness burns. A first degree or superficial burn only affects the epidermis layer which is the top layer of skin. Sunburn would be an example of a first degree burn. The second degree partial thickness burn is deeper and affects the papillary or even the reticular dermis layers. These burns tend to be extremely painful, swollen, blistered and weeping. The full thickness third and fourth degree burns damage all dermis and underlying tissue and possibly fascia, muscle and even bone. This type of burn is severe and the skin may be pale or blackened with none or very little pain as nerve endings have been destroyed.

Apart from really serious burns, people tend to underestimate the potential severity of other burn injuries. It is surprising how easily infection can enter the human body, and our skin is the first line of defence against these germs and infections. Where the skin is broken or damaged, there is an instant weakness in protection. It is therefore very important that burn injuries are treated and protected.

An ideal way of providing instant treatment and protection is to use a sterile impregnated burn dressing. Burnshield are the leaders in specialised burn treatments and dressings and offer unrivalled heat dissipation and infection prevention.

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