MAIN Health Pain Burns

Burns and scalds are one of the most common household injuries reported - most often due to hot oil, steam or liquids, electrical or chemical burns - or simply as a result of lying out in the sun too long.

As they navigate their new world and discover its dangers, infants and toddlers are especially susceptible to burns from the kitchen or backyard barbecue, or from sticking small fingers into eletrical outlets. As they grow older, a fascination with matches, lighters and fireworks may pose even greater dangers.

Around the kitchen, the microwave oven is often another culprit — as it superheats foods and liquids that are not properly handled, resulting in occasionally serious and painful skin burns.

While some minor burns can be treated with skin creams, cocoa butter or aloe vera, more serious burns require a trip to the doctor. This may also include a round of antibiotics to help prevent infection from developing around damaged skin tissue. Copper supplements have also be found beneficial to replace the vital nutrient which is often lost after serious burns.

Depending on their severity, injuries are commonly categorized into first, second or third degree burns.

First Degree Burns

First-degree burns are the most common, and only injure the top layer of skin resulting in superficial swelling, redness and acute pain.

Second Degree Burns

Second-degree burns are most often recognized by blistering as a result of multi-layer skin damage, accompanied by more severe pain and swelling.

Third Degree Burns

Third-degree burns are the most serious, involving damage to skin layers, nerves, and underlying tissue. Treatment often includes long-term therapy and skin grafts (healthy skin taken from another part of the body to help the wound heal.).

More about burn treatment, photos and first aid around the Web:

Around the Web, learn more about how to prevent and treat burns & scalds with expert advice on kid-proofing against common household burns, information on symptoms and treatment, pain management, first-aid instructions with related pictures & illustrations ...

Burns - Expert advice from KidsHealth.org on treating common burns in children, a guide to 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns and when to seek immediate treatment, risks and safety tips for childproofing against household injuries, related links and resources.

University of Pennsylvania Health Encyclopedia - Burns - Illustrated guide to minor and serious burns & blisters including causes, symptoms & treatment, first aid instructions, do's and don'ts, when to seek immediate care, with additionial guides to CPR, blisters and related topics.

Ambulatory Management of Burns - With focus on more serious burns with medically suggested treatment, information on wound healing times and risk prevention, hyperlinks to related burn treatment fact sheets, from American Family Physicians. Warning: graphic photos ...

Chemical Burns Treatment - First aid and home care tips, advice on when to seek medical care, information on professional treatment, follow-up care and tips on prevention.

Wound Healing and Post-Burn Care - What to expect at the hospital for more serious burns incuding facts on wound care, blisters and itching, scarring, a discussion on pain management, and tips on optimum nutrition to help speed healing, from Johns Hopkins.

Burn (injury) - Wikipedia entry with facts, illustrations, and first aid tips on treating thermal, electrical and chemical burns, scalds and cold burns, with related hyperlinks and resources.

Burns [Alternative Medicine] - Fact sheet with discussions on natural remedies including aloe vera, Vitamins C & E, Calendula cream, Gotu kola and other herbal treatments.

This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.