How to Treat a Burn

So, last blog we talked about cold injuries that can occur. Now, let’s talk about heat injuries. Heat injuries occur in many ways including too hot bath or shower water, spilling hot tea or coffee, or touching a hot pan. Burns can happen in many different ways and depending upon their severity will determine the level of burn that you have.

A first degree burn will injure the top layer of your skin, but you won’t have blistering until your second degree burn. In a 3^rd degree burn you will have damage to your hair follicles and finally you will have exposed bone. Most burns that you will see are first and second degree burns. In all situations though, it is important that you drink lots of water and stay hydrated. Your skin is the protecting part of your body that keeps water inside your body. Once you lose this protecting layer, you must constantly replenish water to stay hydrated.

Treatment of your burn will depend upon its severity. In a person with a 1^st degree burn it is important to make sure that you are keeping the wound clean to prevent infection. You may want to use something like Neosporin to ward off any infection possibility. You may need to use a topical cream that your doctor gives you to help encourage your skin to heal. In more severe burns, you will need to be in the hospital to prevent dehydration and to get your skin to heal.

For any burn that you get it is very important to see your doctor. Burns are hard to classify until they are actually seen and the dead skin is removed. Without removing this skin your healing process will be slowed down and you may not realize how bad your burn actually is. Your doctor will also be able to determine the extent of treatment that you need to heal your burn.

If you or someone you know has a burn on their foot, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and determine what type of treatment  you need to heal your wound. If you live in Dracut, Tewksbury or Reading, Massachusetts our office would be happy to make you an appointment. We are also happy to announce our office in North Andover, Massachusetts at 451 Andover Street #300 North Andover, MA 01845.