Burn Treatment

What is burn treatment?

Burn treatment is a wound care subspecialty focused on burns and their associated side effects. A burn is a painful injury that damages your skin and the surrounding tissues. It occurs when you’re exposed to something hot, like electricity, chemicals, or an open flame.

Burns occur suddenly and often cause serious damage. Without early intervention and treatment, a burn may become infected, increasing your risk of gangrene or amputation.

What types of injuries can benefit from burn treatment?

At Elite Wound Care, Dr. Rash uses burn treatment to treat several types of burns, including:

First-degree burns

First-degree burns damage only the top layer of skin. Usually, these burns cause redness, inflammation, and blisters.

Second-degree burns

Second-degree burns affect the top and lower layers of your skin (the dermis). Second-degree burns are more severe than first-degree burns and cause redness, swelling, and blistering.

Third-degree burns

Third-degree burns damage all three layers of skin, including your epidermis, dermis, and fat. These burns also destroy your sweat follicles, hair, and nerve endings, resulting in extensive scarring and skin that’s leathery in appearance.

When should I consider burn treatment?

Make an appointment at Elite Wound Care for burn treatment if you burn yourself while cooking, working, or using chemicals — especially if you experience symptoms like peeling skin, blisters, pain, or swelling. The sooner you receive burn treatment, the less likely you are to experience complications.

What does burn treatment involve?

At Elite Wound Care, Dr. Rash tailors burn treatment to each individual’s medical history and needs. After a physical exam and a discussion of your symptoms, he might recommend:

• Getting plenty of rest
• Drinking lots of water
• Applying a topical ointment, like aloe vera gel (for minor burns)
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication
• Prescription ointments, like silver sulfadiazine
• Skin grafts
• Advanced wound care
• IV therapy

Ultimately, the goal of burn treatment is to reduce the risk of infection and encourage your body’s natural healing process.

How can I reduce the risk of a burn?

There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of a burn. Dr. Rash recommends wearing sunscreen outside, always testing the water before you get into the shower or bath, using the stove’s back burners as much as possible when cooking, and stocking your home with fire extinguishers.

To explore the benefits of burn treatment, make an appointment at Elite Wound Care by calling the office or booking online today.