Burns vary depending on how many layers of the skin are affected or how deep they are.
A superficial burn is red like sunburn and needs no specific treatment other than moisturisation.
Partial thickness burns occur when the skin is blistered.
Most burns require reviewing the next day to ensure the depth of the burn has been assessed accurately.
TREATMENT
Various dressings can be used to treat burns and will depend on the age of the burn and other characteristics.
VASELINE GAUZE DRESSING (GELONET)
This dressing needs to be changed every two days and you will be given the appropriate appointments.
MEPITEL
This dressing should, if possible, be left on for longer to avoid disturbing the new skin and prevent infection. A follow up appointment will be given.
CARE OF YOUR BURN AND DRESSING
Keep the dressing clean and dry.
If the wound is painful, take pain killers to help relieve discomfort.
Leave the dressing alone until your next follow up appointment.
Seek medical advice prior to your appointment if:
- After initial improvement, you experience increasing pain.
- Fluid seeps through the dressing.
- The dressing become accidentally wet or comes off.
- You develop a high temperature, feel unwell, feverish or lethargic.
Additionally
Once the burn has healed:
Any burn to the skin will cause that area to be more sensitive especially to heat including the sun. if exposed this can result in sunburn and permanent pigmentation (tanned colouring) of the skin.
Therefore:
- Make sure the burn area is not exposed to sunshine for the first 18 months.
- Use a high factor sun block (SPF 25 or above) on the burn area.
- The skin may also be very dry and flaky and regular use of moisture cream/Aloe Vera or a similar cream will be helpful.
Courtesy Southend Hospital A&E, UK.