How To Treat A Second Degree Burn
Burns are defined as injuries to body's soft tissues due to high or low temperatures. They can be produced by different types of factors: physical, electrical, chemical or radiation. They are also further categorised by the depth of injury to the affected skin as: First degree, second degree and third degree. In this article we explain how to treat a second degree burn.
You'll need:
- running water
- moist gauze
- Potato
Steps to follow:
Second degree burns affect the two first layers of the skin: epidermis and dermis. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin and the dermis is the layer beneath the epidermis which is firmly attached to it. So, when we get burned we should analyze the burn's degree of harm and determine if we can cure it ourselves or if it's necessary to go to emergencies at a medical center. According to the degree in which your skin is affected, it should be specialized professionals who perform the right cures for your burn. This also applies when the burn is due to a chemical agent or electricity.
In this way, second degree burns are characterized by the following:
- Redness of the affected area
- Intense pain
- Burning sensation
- Appearance of blisters
You can take a look at the symptoms more in detail in our article on how to know if you have a second degree burn to know all the signs that indicate that you have this type of burn.
An the other hand, burns can be divided into minor and major, according to the extension they have and therefore, the treatment will be different. Moreover, it's important to highlight that you should immediately go to a doctor if the affected second degree burned area is on the face, hands, feet, thighs, groin or joints.
If your second degree burn is in a part that has not previously been mentioned, the first step to treat a second degree burn is to rinse the wound under cold water for at least 5 minutes. This will ease the burning sensation caused by the swelling and, at the same time, you'll be cleaning the affected area to avoid the spread of infections. It can also be useful to cover the affected area with a sterilized gauze.
The next step you should take straight after is to apply raw potato an the burned area to reduce the pain thanks to its soothing properties. However, this solution is just momentary and will not avoid the necessity to cure the second degree burn and the possible blisters that could derive from it.
It is also very important to highlight that the blisters that appear due to second degree burns should never be burst, as the liquid inside protects the internal layers of the skin. On the contrary, an open wound will be a focus of infections and could therefore bring complications.
If the pain is very intense, the most recommendable thing to do is to visit a doctor immediately so he/she can examine the burn and determine the best treatment to follow. We should also highlight that the doctor will also be able to prescribe a cream that will help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to How To Treat A Second Degree Burn, we recommend you visit our Family health category.
Tips
- Do not burst blisters as this will cause infection.
- In the event of burns, consult your doctor.
