Burns and scalds are injuries caused by heat from hot liquids, surfaces, or vapors. They range from minor first-degree burns affecting just the outer skin layer to severe third-degree burns penetrating all skin layers. Treatment depends on burn severity but generally involves cooling the burn, applying antibiotic ointment or sterile dressings, and taking pain medication. More serious burns require medical care to prevent infection and promote proper healing. Sunburn is also a type of burn caused by overexposure to UV rays from the sun and should be treated by hydrating skin and protecting it from further sun exposure.

1. WHAT IS BURN
AND SCALDS
?

2. BURNS AND SCALDS
• Injuries caused by heat are called burns. A burn might be caused by hot liquid, a solid surface
or a hot moist vapor is called a scald.
• 1. MAJOR BURNS AND SCALDS
• 1. Remove clothing of the victim except what sticks to the burned skin. Cut the cloth
gently around the burn if it sticks.
• 2. Cover the burn with sterile dressing to keep air out, reduce pain and prevent
infection.
• 3. Do not apply anything on the burn.
• 4. Burn and scalds are "hurry cases". Call a doctor!
• If the burn covers a wide area and the victim is conscious, let him drink half glass of the
following solution every 15 minutes: 0.5 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt
dissolved in a half-filled small pitcher of water. Stop if the victim vomits.

3. BURNS AND SCALDS
• 2. SMALL BURNS AND SCALDS
• 1. If the skin is not blistered, apply petroleum jelly or burn ointment, vaseline or
mineral oil.
• 2. Cover with gauze pad and bandage lightly.
• 3. If the skin is blistered, cover the burn with sterile gauze to exclude air and
prevent infection. Dont apply anything.
• 4. Dont break the blisters
• **CAUTION: Small burns or scalds may be dangerous if large areas are involved. Call a
doctor.**

4. BURNS AND SCALDS
• 3. CHEMICAL BURNS AND SCALDS
• 1. Wash off the chemical with plenty of water.
• 2. Treat burns caused by strong acids, first, by washing the burn with
water and then applying warm solution of baking soda.
• 3. For burns caused by strong alkalies, wash with water, apply
vinegar or boric acid solutions, and cover with burn ointment.

5. BURNS AND SCALDS
• 4. FIRST DEGREE BURNS
• First-degree burns cause minimal skin damage. They are also called
“superficial burns” because they affect the outermost layer of skin. Signs of a
first-degree burn include:
A. redness
• B. minor inflammation, or swelling
• C. pain
• D. dry, peeling skin occurs as the burn heals
• Since this burn affects the top layer of skin, the signs and symptoms disappear
once the skin cells shed. First-degree burns usually heal within 7 to 10 days
without scarring.

6. BURNS AND SCALDS
• Since this burn affects the top layer of skin, the signs and symptoms disappear
once the skin cells shed. First-degree burns usually heal within 7 to 10 days
without scarring.
• You should still see your doctor if the burn affects a large area of skin, more
than three inches, and if it’s on your face or a major joint, which include:
• A. knee
• B. ankle
• C. foot
• D. spine
• E. shoulder
• F. elbow
• G. forearm

7. BURNS AND SCALDS
• First-degree burns are usually treated with home care. Healing time may be quicker the
sooner you treat the burn. Treatments for a first-degree burn include:
• 1. Soaking the wound in cool water for five minutes or longer.
• 2. Taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief.
• 3. Applying lidocaine (an anesthetic) with aloe vera gel or cream to soothe the
skin.
• 4. Using an antibiotic ointment and loose gauze to protect the affected area.
• Make sure you don’t use ice, as this may make the damage worse. Never apply cotton
balls to a burn because the small fibers can stick to the injury and increase the risk of
infection. Also, avoid home remedies like butter and eggs as these are not proven to be
effective.

8. BURNS AND SCALDS
• 5. SECOND DEGREE BURN
• Second-degree burns are more serious because the damage extends beyond the
top layer of skin. This type burn causes the skin to blister and become
extremely red and sore.
• Some blisters pop open, giving the burn a wet or weeping appearance. Over
time, thick, soft, scab-like tissue called fibrinous exudate may develop over the
wound.
• Due to the delicate nature of these wounds, keeping the area clean and
bandaging it properly is required to prevent infection. This also helps the burn
heal quicker.

9. BURNS AND SCALDS
• Some second-degree burns take longer than three weeks to heal, but most heal
within two to three weeks without scarring, but often with pigment changes to
the skin.
• The worse the blisters are, the longer the burn will take to heal. In some severe
cases, skin grafting is required to fix the damage. Skin grafting takes healthy
skin from another area of the body and moves it to the site of the burned skin.
• As with first-degree burns, avoid cotton balls and questionable home remedies.
Treatments for a mild second-degree burn generally include:
• 1. Running the skin under cool water for 15 minutes or longer
• 2. Taking over-the-counter pain medication (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
• 3. Applying antibiotic cream to blisters

10. BURNS AND SCALDS
• However, seek emergency medical treatment if the burn affects a
widespread area, such as any of the following:
• 1. face
• 2. hands
• 3. buttocks
• 4. groin
• 5. feet

11. BURNS AND SCALDS
• THIRD DEGREE BURN
• Excluding fourth-degree burns, third-degree burns are the most severe. They cause the
most damage, extending through every layer of skin.
• There is a misconception that third-degree burns are the most painful. However, with
this type of burn the damage is so extensive that there may not be any pain because of
nerve damage.
• Depending on the cause, the symptoms third-degree burns can exhibit include:
• 1. waxy and white color
• 2. char
• 3. dark brown color
• 4. raised and leathery texture
• 5. blisters that do not develop

12. BURNS AND SCALDS
• Without surgery, these wounds heal with severe scarring and contracture.
There is no set timeline for complete spontaneous healing for third-degree
burns.
• Never attempt to self-treat a third-degree burn. Call 911 immediately.
While you’re waiting for medical treatment, raise the injury above your
heart. Don’t get undressed, but make sure no clothing is stuck to the burn.

13. BURNS AND SCALDS
• SUNBURN
• Your skin can burn if it gets too much sun without proper protection from
sunscreen and clothes. To help heal and soothe stinging skin, it is
important to begin treating sunburn as soon as you notice it. The first
thing you should do is get out of the sun – and preferably indoors

14. BURNS AND SCALDS
• Once indoors, these dermatologists' tips can help relieve the discomfort:
• 1. Put a cold, damp towel on your skin. Do this for 10 or 15 minutes a few times
everyday. That will help take some of the heat out of your skin. You also can take
frequent cool baths or showers to help relieve the pain. As soon as you get out of
the bathtub or shower, gently pat yourself dry, but leave a little water on your skin.
Then, apply a moisturizer to help trap the water in your skin. This will help ease the
dryness.
• 2. Use a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe sunburned skin.
Lotions that have something called aloe vera in them help make your skin feel better.
Be careful not to use lotions or creams that have any of these things listed in the
ingredients: petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine. Things with petroleum trap the heat
in your skin (and you don't want that!) and benzocaine and lidocaine can bother and
irritate your skin. If a particular area feels especially uncomfortable, you may want to
apply a hydrocortisone cream that you can buy without a prescription.
• 3. Ask your parents about taking ibuprofen if the sunburn really hurts. This will help
reduce any swelling, redness and discomfort.

15. BURNS AND SCALDS
• 4. Drink extra water. Sunburn makes you get very dry inside, so you need to drink a lot.
Drinking extra water when you are sunburned helps prevent dehydration.
• 5. Leave blisters alone. If your skin blisters, don't pop them because that makes the
sunburn worse. Blistering skin means you have a second-degree sunburn. Allow the
blisters to heal and protect you from infection.
• 6. Tell your parents if you feel sick. They might need to take you to the doctor if you feel
dizzy, weak, sick to your stomach, cold, or just not yourself. Those things can mean the
sunburn is making you really sick and you need help.
• 7. Take extra care to protect sunburned skin while it heals. Wear clothing that covers
your skin when outdoors. Tightly-woven fabrics work best. When you hold the fabric up
to a bright light, you shouldn't see any light coming through.

16. BURNS AND SCALDS
• Although it may seem like a temporary condition, sunburn – a result of
skin receiving too much exposure from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays – can
cause long-lasting damage to the skin. This damage increases a person's
risk for getting skin cancer, making it critical to protect the skin from the
sun.
• For questions about your sunburn, or to learn how to better protect your
skin from the sun, see a board-certified dermatologist.