How to Treat Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be really painful. Sometimes, when you get a burn injury, you just don’t know how to react properly. But look no further! Here, you will learn about the different methods and ways of treatment that you can use to ensure that you are giving your injury the best possible treatment.
The very first thing you need to do if you have a burn injury is to identify the severity of your wound. If you aren’t sure how exactly to do this, don’t worry, keep reading and we will guide you on how to treat your burn injuries up to second-degree burns.
Burn injuries are divided into three different categories based on severity: First, second and third-degree burns. If the burn has only affected the first layer of your skin, then it is a first-degree burn, if it has affected the first two layers then it is a second-degree burn and if the burn destroys the fat below your skin, then it is considered a third-degree burn.
How you should treat first-degree burns:
- Clean the wound with cool water. By doing this, you are allowing yourself fewer risks of swelling, and the wound is also cleaned in the process.
- Apply moisturizer on the area. To prevent the wound from getting dry and leaving scars, apply moisturizers. A simple sorbolene cream should be good.
- Tightly bandage the burn. Now that the wound is cleaned, wrap the area with a sterile bandage tightly to protect and cover it from the sun or other heat sources.
How you should treat second-degree burns:
- Clean the wound with cool water
- Apply ointments to the burn. Anti-bacterial ointments such as Neosporin and Bacitracin prove to help treat burns. (do not use lotions such as butter or aloe vera)
- Tightly bandage the burn… keep the burn moist and covered, this helps the veins of the wound regenerate much quicker.
If you or someone you know has a third-degree (or higher!) burn injury, immediately contact a doctor and get professional medical care.
