Guide to treating a burn injury
Burn injuries can be one of the most painful types of injury in Illinois, and they often require medical attention. Less severe burns can be treated at home, but in order to do this properly, one needs to be able to diagnose the burn.
According to Healthline, there are three kinds of burns. Third-degree burns are the most severe kind and can appear as white leathery skin the has lost all sensation. Second-degree burns can involve some thickening of the skin with blisters, while a first-degree burn will turn the skin red and painful but with no blisters.
Treating the injury
If someone has a second or third-degree burn, he or she should go to the doctor as soon as possible. Burn injuries have a high risk of infection and can sometimes lead to other complications such as loss of sensation. WebMD states that a very small second-degree burn that is less than two inches across or a first-degree burn can be treated at home unless the burn is to the genitals, face, feet or hands.
For treating the burn at home, people can help to mitigate pain by taking over-the-counter pain medication such as naproxen, ibuprofen or acetaminophen. As far as the actual treatment goes, petroleum-based ointments are fine, but any other kind of lotion or cream should be avoided.
A sterile cloth or bandage should also be gently wrapped around the area to protect it. When the burn first happens, if it is a first-degree burn, it helps to run cold water over the injury. Ice should be avoided.