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A burn is tissue damage caused by exposure to high temperatures. The type of damage depends on the temperature and duration of action on the human body. There are different types and degrees of skin burns. What are thermal and chemical burns?
Chemical burns – characteristics
Chemical burns are especially dangerous for the eye. They are most often caused by acidic substances: sulfur, salt or alkaline: ammonia, caustic soda. Corrosive or toxic substances can also cause chemical burns. Alkalis (especially calcium hydroxide) are more dangerous as they dissolve tissues, causing extensive damage to the eye. Toxic burns are also very dangerous as they not only burn the skin but also enter the bloodstream and poison the body.
See also: Symptoms of poisoning with corrosive substances
Symptoms of chemical burns
The effects of burns depend on the concentration, duration of action and temperature of the substance. It should be remembered that even small amounts of quicklime or slaked lime, causing only temporary redness on the skin, cause swelling and necrosis after contact with the conjunctiva and cornea. The conjunctiva becomes greenish and the porcelain-white cornea. The effects of burns may be external or internal (ingress of substance vapors, e.g. into the respiratory tract).
People who have suffered a chemical burn develop redness, wounds and blisters. As a result of acid burns, scabs of various colors are formed (alkali burns appear as a soft, white scab). In addition, contact of the corrosive substance with the eyes – it can even lead to visual disturbances.
Internal symptoms are characterized by the presence of wounds in the mouth and throat and burning pain in the mouth, abdomen and chest. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, there are also dizziness and headaches, severe sweating, drooling or disturbed consciousness. Acute burns often lead to breathing disorders and irregular heart rhythm (sometimes even stopping it).
How to recognize a chemical burn?
A chemical burn should be diagnosed as soon as possible. Usually, diagnostics are based on a medical interview with the patient and people from his environment, and an analysis of the symptoms. After removing the corrosive substance from the wound, the specialist decides on the further procedure, which depends on the degree and extent of the chemical burn.
Treatment
Immediate action is essential in chemical burns. It takes many weeks for tissues to heal after chemical burns and, as a rule, there is extensive scarring and a significant loss of vision (if the substance gets into the eye). Each sick person, after first aid, must be transported to an ophthalmic hospital.
Symptoms of burns may be minimized if assistance is provided within two minutes of contact with the substance. Why is this happening? The longer a chemical is in contact with our skin, the more severe the burn is. Therefore, it is very important to immediately remove the “perpetrator” of the burns and the clothing that came into contact with them from the environment.
Procedure:
– wounds should be rinsed with cold water (the stream should not run over healthy parts of the body);
– in people burned with acids, wash the surface with an alkaline liquid, preferably with a 3% solution of baking soda or a soap solution;
– people with alkali burns use a weak solution of boric or acetic acid;
– severe burns are a necessity for skin transplantation, and sometimes even amputation.
The above-mentioned procedure should be implemented until specialist help appears. The doctor will decide on further treatment.
Can chemical burns be prevented?
Yes you can. It should be remembered that chemical burns are often the result of inappropriate behavior in contact with corrosive substances (it is very important to comply with health and safety regulations). The best prophylaxis is to avoid contact with corrosive agents, and if it is necessary, e.g. due to the specificity of the work – you should wear gloves, masks and special protective clothing to avoid unpleasant consequences in the form of burns.
Of course, these kinds of burns don’t just happen in chemical plants. Such incidents also occur at home, in which case burns occur as a result of contact with bleach or toilet cleaners. There are also dramatic burns in children who inadvertently drink, for example, a corrosive substance.
Thermal burns
Thermal burns result from contact with a thermal medium, such as hot water or oil. They can be classified taking into account the extent of the burn. A severe burn may even cause death. Already under the influence of 42 degrees Celsius, the skin may be damaged, then the epidermis undergoes necrosis after a few hours. On the other hand, a temperature of 55 degrees Celsius causes burns within 3 minutes, and at 70 degrees Celsius – 1 second is enough.
Each burn above 55 degrees Celsius causes damage to the skin and deeper tissues (necrosis).
Classification of burns
1. XNUMXst degree burns – they are limited only to the epidermis, and their specific symptoms are slight swelling, slight reddening of the skin and a painful burning sensation. Appearing erythema may be caused by the action of sunlight or water vapor. It usually lasts for a few days and then heals on its own. IMPORTANT: A first-degree burn does not leave any scars.
2. Second degree burns – they usually occur as a result of skin contact with hot oil, boiling water or chemicals. This type of burn is divided into superficial: limited to the epidermis and parts of the dermis; the patient develops swelling and redness of the skin, pain, blisters with serous content, inflammation and necrosis of the epidermis at the border with the dermis. Superficial burns take about two weeks to heal (slight skin discoloration remains). Another type is a deep second degree burn, which affects the epidermis and the entire thickness of the dermis. The symptoms include pain and white skin with red dots indicating superficial necrosis. The pain is slightly less than in the case of superficial burns, because the nerve endings have been damaged. Deep burns take about three weeks to heal (scarring may occur).
3. Third degree burns – in this case, the entire layer of the skin is destroyed, and sometimes even the deeper tissues (the consequence is skin necrosis). This is due to the prolonged exposure to hot oil, boiling water, or fire. In addition, yellow or white-gray scabs appear. The injured person feels severe pain and hypersensitivity to touch, the dead parts separate and scars form. This type of burn often requires surgery.
4. XNUMXth degree burns – may result from electric current or fire for long periods. Tissue charring is an extreme symptom, and the necrosis itself appears in all tissues down to the bone.
Diagnostics
Recognizing thermal burns is not a major problem. A visual inspection of the patient and a medical interview are sufficient. In diagnostics, it is very important for a specialist to determine the depth of burns and tissue damage, as well as (in percent) the damaged surface of the body. Sometimes such an assessment is possible only a few days after the burn.
Treatment
First aid for burns consists of washing the wound with clean and cold water to relieve pain. Subsequently, the injured should be covered with a dressing from a sterile wound. Important! If the damaged part of the body is under the clothing, do not remove it until it is cooling down, as it may stick firmly to the skin.
In case of very extensive and dangerous burns – the first step is to call an ambulance. The treatment implemented depends on the extent of the burns. Some people even need a skin graft. Therefore, a dermatologist and a surgeon are an indispensable element of medical treatment.
Prevention
Preventing burns is all about caution, whether at home, at work or at school. Very common, sheer distraction or lack of common sense leads to tragedy.
Parents should also be careful with their children, who very often do not realize that contact with an iron or other hot substance is dangerous. Therefore, in the house where tiny children live, the necessary safety measures should be implemented.
Read also: Thermal burns
Chemical burn
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