Treating Superficial or 1st Degree Burns

These are burns which only effect only the Epidermis. Sunburn is a typical example.

What is burn thickness?

The different layers of your skin do different things for you, some can protect and insulate you, others can grow new skin, regulate body temperature, grow hair, guard against infection and communicate with your brain about what your environment feels like. The supple flexibility of your skin allows you to move and breath.

The Deeper the Burn Penetrates will determine which of these functions may be damaged and which of these functions may be lost forever. ? If you have just been confronted with a burns accident, don't try to determine the depth or extent of the burn, JUST COOL IT. COOLING of the burn is your really important FIRST aim, even before you've had a chance to evaluate the depth or extent of the burn. JUST COOL IT. You may just stop a minor burn from escalating into a major burn. ?

Referring to my own case: Had not water been run GENTLY over my body within seconds of the burn accident, my full thickness burns (3rd Degree) would have been much higher than 50% of body surface area.

If a garden hose is not available, well soaked towels will do, but change them frequently.

Contact burns, scalds and fire burns can continue to penetrate tissue for many minutes, gasoline fire burns can continue to penetrate for up to 17 minutes, so you need to apply COOLING for at least 20 minutes to stop the damage from penetrating further. ?

NEVER use COLD or ICED WATER, only COOL water, and only for 20 minutes, otherwise blood circulation to the burns site may be restricted.

The most typical variety of superficial burn is sunburn, and even though it's considered Minor, cool water is very comforting, and a burn cream or Aloe Vera will help to insulate the burn from aircurrents.

Contact burns that redden and hurt but do not blister are also classified as superficial burns.

After the initial cooling, and the COOLING is the really important part, a Burn Cream or Aloe Vera and a light bandage can be applied to keep the air currents from causing pain.

IMPORTANT

Blisters are the first sign of damage to the dermal layer below the epidermis. If blistering is apparent, and the area is greater than 1%, (which is approximately the handspan of the patient not counting the fingers) then the patient should seek professional medical help.

The first page of the website http://www.3rd-degree-burns-surviver.com/
Author, Pete Rumball who suffered 3rd degree burns to 50% of his body surface area 30 year ago and recovered sufficiently in 12 months to run a Building Supply Company & open a Motor Cycle Franchise in Central Queensland, Manage an Irrigation design and supply company in SE Queensland and Build up a new business in the Stained Glass Industry.