|
 |
|
|
|
Take the heat out of a burn
Your day is filled with heat hazards -- splattering bacon grease, hot coffee, even the noonday sun can do a number on your skin. What you may not realize is that a burn keeps burning even after the initial exposure. So it's really important to cool it off quickly. Cool water on the affected area will give some immediate relief, and then you can try some soothing burn lotion. Keep the area clean and covered for faster healing. And next time, watch out.
|
|
|
|
|
Classify the Burn
If you've burned yourself, the first thing to do is to cool down the area. If a burn is minor, immerse it in cool water and keep it there for at least 20 minutes. If the burn is serious, seek attention immediately. Cooling the burn may delay medical treatment. Take a careful look and figure out the type of burn you are dealing with.
- First-degree burn: the skin is reddened, but not broken. There may be some pain.
- Mild second-degree burn: the skin is reddened and small sections of the outer layer of skin may be damaged.
- Major second-degree burn: blistering and splitting of the skin bigger than the size of a person's hand.
- Third-degree burn: deep tissue damage with no pain because the nerve endings have been destroyed
Treating the Burn
If you have a major second-degree or third-degree burn, get medical attention immediately! Do not attempt to treat the burn yourself. Call 911. First-aid ointments and bandages may damage the burned skin even further. For first-degree and mild second-degree burns, try nonprescription remedies for quick treatment.
For mild burns that can be treated at home, cooling down the area quickly is most important -- it halts redness and swelling. Immersing the area in a basin of cool water for 20 minutes works best. Running water may increase pain and ice cubes or ice water are too cold.
After cooling the burn with water, you may want to apply a burn ointment or lotion. Avoid the use of home remedies such as butter, lard, or grease as these substances are not sterile and may cause infection.
Burn Basics
Thermal burns
- Thermal burns can result from fire, heat, sunlight, or boiling water.
- The first thing to do for a minor thermal burn is to cool it off. Soak the affected area in cool water as long as needed. Do not use ice.
- If it is a more serious burn, seek medical attention immediately. But if there is time, immersion in cool water is recommended, because it has been shown to reduce blister formation.
- Taking oral analgesics can lessen the pain (such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen).
Electrical burns
- Electrical burns result from an electrical current entering your body, traveling through it, and exiting.
- Often only the entrance and exit signs of an electrical burn are present. This does not mean that there is not internal tissue damage.
- An electrical burn is serious and should only be self-medicated if it is very minor. To be on the safe side you should have a physician evaluate it.
- Flash burns are not caused by electricity, but by heat from an electrical current. They are actually a type of thermal burn, and should be treated as such.
Chemical burns
- Chemical burns are the result of contact with caustic chemicals such as acids (e.g., sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid) or bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium aluminum hydride).
- If the chemicals have contacted your skin, all clothing near the burn should be removed.
- Then you should wash the affected area in tap water from 15 minutes to two hours until the chemical has been thoroughly diluted. A full-body shower may be necessary if the affected area is large.
- Do not try to neutralize the chemical (i.e., do use vinegar to treat a sodium hydroxide burn). This may damage the skin further than the original chemical.
- If the chemical has gotten into your eye, flush it out immediately with an eyewash or tap water.
- Tilt your head backwards and sideways. When you flush your eye with solution, the flow of liquid should be from your nose toward your ear. This will prevent washing chemicals into an unaffected eye.
- Keeping your eyes open, flush them with eyewash solution or running warm tap water for at least 15 minutes.
- For all chemical burns, seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 and/or a poison control center.
Sunburns
- Sunburns should be first treated by getting into the shade or indoors.
- Cold tap water, cold compresses, or a cold bath can be used as frequently as needed to reduce the chance of blistering. Do not use ice.
- Taking oral analgesics can lessen the pain (such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen).
- Be aware of possible heat stroke with symptoms including:
- Fever
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Rapid drop in blood pressure
- Coma
|
|
|
|
|
FDA-Approved Uses
Pain and itch relievers
- For the temporary relief of pain and itching associated with minor burns, sunburn, minor cuts, scrapes, insect bites, minor skin irritations, and rashes due to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.
Skin protectants
- Provides temporary skin protection and relieves minor irritation and itching due to poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and insect bites.
- For the temporary protection of minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and sunburn.
Thermal Burns
- Thermal burns can result from fire, heat, sunlight, or boiling water.
- The first thing to do for a minor thermal burn is to cool it off. Run the burned area under cool water, or soak the affected area in cool water, as often as needed. Do not use ice.
- If it is a more serious burn, seek medical attention immediately. But if there is time, immersion in cool water is recommended, because it has been shown to reduce blister formation.
- Taking oral analgesics can lessen the pain (e.g., aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen).
Electrical Burns
- Electrical burns result from an electrical current entering your body, traveling through it, and exiting.
- Often only the entrance and exit signs of an electrical burn are present. This does not mean that there is not internal tissue damage.
- Electrical burns are serious and should only be self-medicated if they are very minor. To be on the safe side, you should have a doctor evalute them.
- Flash burns are not caused by electricity, but by heat from an electrical current. They are actually a type of thermal burn and should be treated as such.
Chemical Burns
- Chemical burns are the result of contact with caustic chemicals such as acids (e.g., sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid) or bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium aluminum hydride).
- If the chemicals have contacted your skin, all clothing near the burn should be removed.
- Then you should wash in tap water from 15 minutes to two hours until the chemical has been thoroughly diluted.
- If the chemical has gotten into your eye flush it out immediately.
- Tilt your head backwards and sideways so that when you flush your eye with solution, the flow of liquid will be from your nose to your ear. This will prevent washing chemicals into an unaffected eye. If eyewash solution is not available, use tap water.
- Using one hand, gently pull your lower eyelid away from the affected eye. With your other hand place the dropper directly over your eye and look at the tip.
- Flush the eye liberally with the solution by gently squeezing the bottle, while rotating and blinking your eye around to ensure that all surfaces are flushed.
- Flush your other eye if necessary.
- Repeat until the offending chemical has been diluted.
- Do not try to neutralize the chemical (i.e., do not use vinegar to treat a sodium hydroxide burn). This may damage the skin further than the original chemical.
- Seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 and/or your poison control center.
Sunburns
- Sunburns should be first treated by getting out of the sunlight.
- Cold tap water, cold towels, or a cold bath can be used as frequently as needed to reduce the chance of blistering. Do not use ice.
- Taking oral analgesics (e.g., aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen) can lessen the pain during the first 24 hours after a burn.
- Be aware of possible heat stroke with symptoms including:
- Fever (very high fever signals serious heat stroke)
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Rapid drop in blood pressure
- Coma
Ingredients to Help Soothe Burns
- Protectants: they may be applied as many times per day as necessary to soothe minor burned tissue. Contact a doctor if your burn does not improve or worsens after seven days.
- Internal Analgesics: acetaminophen, aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, or ketoprofen may be taken to reduce the pain and inflammation of sunburn. Acetaminophen will not reduce inflammation and those drugs that do reduce inflammation only work for the first 24 hours of burn.
- Local Anesthetics, Counterirritants, and Antihistamines: these sprays and lotions can be used up to four times a day on the skin. Overuse can lead to systemic toxic effects and should be avoided. They should only be used on burns where the skin is intact. Do not use on broken skin because of increased risk of irritation.
- Hydrocortisone: is not approved for use in minor burns; it can slow healing time and promote secondary infection.
Secondary Therapy
- Secondary therapy involves the use of a topical antibiotic.
- Bacterial skin infections are common in burned skin.
- Topical antibiotics can be used as a prophylactic against bacterial skin infections.
|
|
|
|
|
Warnings
Skin protectants
Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:- Allergy to any skin protectants or other component in burn and sunburn products
Or if you:- Have symptoms that do not improve within seven days or worsen; consult a physician
- Plan to use more than three or four times daily
- Plan to use over raw surfaces or blistered areas
- Plan to use on serious or large burns
- Plan to apply to large areas of the body or under compresses or bandages
Topical anesthetics
Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:- Allergy to any topical anesthetics or any component in burn and sunburn products
- Open wounds or sores
- A pre-existing skin infection
Or if you:- Have symptoms that do not improve within seven days or worsen; consult a doctor
- Plan to use more than three or four times daily
- Plan on using over raw surfaces or blistered areas
- Plan to use on serious or large burns
- Plan to apply to large areas of the body or under compresses or bandages
Antihistamines (topical)
Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:- A pre-existing skin infection
- Allergy to any antihistamines
- Skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema
- Open sores or wounds
Or if you:- Plan on using over large wounds or blistered areas
Counterirritants
Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:- Allergy to any counterirritants
- Open wounds or sores
Or if you:- Plan to apply to lesions, broken, damaged, or sensitive skin
- Plan to apply near eyes or other mucous membranes
- Plan to apply over large wounds or blistered areas
Hydrocortisone
Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:- Allergy to hydrocortisone products
- Open wounds or sores
- Skin infection
Or if you:- Develop rash or other skin irritation after use
- Plan to apply near eyes and mucous membranes
- Plan to apply to wounds, lesions, or broken, damaged, or sensitive skin
- Plan to use for more than three days
Common Side Effects
Skin protectants
Topical anesthetics
Counterirritants
Hydrocortisone
Infrequent to Rare Side Effects
Skin protectants
Topical anesthetics
- Skin burning, itching, or stinging
Counterirritants
- Allergic skin rash
- Skin irritation
Hydrocortisone
- Allergic skin rash
- Skin irritation
Effects of Overdose
Skin protectants
Topical anesthetics
Counterirritants
Hydrocortisone
What to Do in Case of Overdose
Skin protectants
- For external use only. If swallowed, immediately seek medical attention.
Topical anesthetics
- For external use only. If swallowed, immediately seek medical attention.
Counterirritants
- For external use only. If swallowed, immediately seek medical attention.
Hydrocortisone
- For external use only. If swallowed, immediately seek medical attention.
|
|
|
|
|
Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Government Sources
- 1. Food & Drug Administration.Federal Register 2/15/83.
Books
- 1. Covington, TR et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, Eleventh Ed. American Pharmaceutical Assoc. Washington, DC 1996.
- 2. Kastrup EK et al. Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts and Comparisons.
- 3. Inlander, CB and Slamans, S.The Over-the-Counter Doctor. Cader Books. New York, NY 1997.
- 4. Zimmerman, DR.Zimmerman's Complete Guide to Nonprescription Drugs, Second Ed. Gale Research, Inc. 1983.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
| |
|
