Heat is the most obvious cause of burn injuries. This can be from direct contact with fires, radiators or hot liquids, but also the radiated heat from an extreme source of heat, such as a furnace or open fire. Burns can also be caused by chemicals, electricity, the sun's rays, friction, rubbing or chafing, or even extreme cold.
Burns usually affect the skin, but other important areas of the body can also be injured. For example, the airways and lungs can be damaged as a result of inhaling hot fumes and gases.
Most often, chemical burns occur during industrial accidents, but they can also occur in the home with common battery acids, oils and gases. Chemical burns can cause progressive damage until the chemical is inactivated. The severity of this type of burn depends on the kind of chemical, length of exposure and amount of tissue involved.
Very minor burns can be treated at home. First-degree burns usually don't require dressings. Moisturizing, after-sun or calamine lotions can ease some of the discomfort. Simple painkillers, such as ibuprofen, may also help. First-degree burns usually settle in a matter of days, perhaps with a little skin peeling.
At the hospital, doctors will continue first-aid measures and protect the damaged skin with dressings.
Healthy skin prevents loss of fluid from the tissues underneath and is also a very effective barrier to infection. These functions are lost when the skin is burned. After severe burns, large quantities of fluid can be lost through the skin. This can have a dangerous effect on the heart and circulation. This is why people with serious burns need to be closely monitored and often require intravenous fluids to help their circulation.
People with severe burns need to be cared for in specialist burns units where other specialist treatments can be given to help look after them.
Burns may become infected because the skin is less able to protect itself from infection by bacteria. That is why more serious burns need to be dressed and kept clean to help prevent this while the skin heals. If infection is suspected, treatment with antibiotics may be needed.
Burns usually affect the skin, but other important areas of the body can also be injured. For example, the airways and lungs can be damaged as a result of inhaling hot fumes and gases.
Most often, chemical burns occur during industrial accidents, but they can also occur in the home with common battery acids, oils and gases. Chemical burns can cause progressive damage until the chemical is inactivated. The severity of this type of burn depends on the kind of chemical, length of exposure and amount of tissue involved.
Very minor burns can be treated at home. First-degree burns usually don't require dressings. Moisturizing, after-sun or calamine lotions can ease some of the discomfort. Simple painkillers, such as ibuprofen, may also help. First-degree burns usually settle in a matter of days, perhaps with a little skin peeling.
At the hospital, doctors will continue first-aid measures and protect the damaged skin with dressings.
Healthy skin prevents loss of fluid from the tissues underneath and is also a very effective barrier to infection. These functions are lost when the skin is burned. After severe burns, large quantities of fluid can be lost through the skin. This can have a dangerous effect on the heart and circulation. This is why people with serious burns need to be closely monitored and often require intravenous fluids to help their circulation.
People with severe burns need to be cared for in specialist burns units where other specialist treatments can be given to help look after them.
Burns may become infected because the skin is less able to protect itself from infection by bacteria. That is why more serious burns need to be dressed and kept clean to help prevent this while the skin heals. If infection is suspected, treatment with antibiotics may be needed.
