The burn is a frequent domestic accident but it can be serious depending on its depth and the affected area. Find out how to react in the event of a burn, the signs that should alert you and the actions to absolutely avoid.
SUMMARY :
- What is a burn?
- What are the types of burns?
- What are the causes of burns?
- What are the complications of burns?
- How do you tell the difference between a simple burn and a severe burn?
- How to relieve depending on the type of burn? What to apply?
- Bad things to avoid in the event of a burn
- What are the signs of urgency to consult?
What is a burn?
A burn is defined as an injury produced on a part of the body by the action of fire, heat or a chemical substance. It is most often linked to a domestic accident.
The burn is said to be cutaneous when it touches the skin, but can also affect the mucous membranes, in particular the digestive mucous membranes such as the mouth, the esophagus or the stomach.
What are the types of burns?
Burns can take on different appearances and are generally classified in degrees.
- The first degree burn corresponds to a shallow burn. The skin is red, dry, painful, but without blisters.
- In the case of a second degree burn, the burning skin is swollen, red, oozing, very painful and covered with blisters, more or less numerous.
- Finally, the third degree burn is characterized by a brown or black wound, hollow compared to neighboring tissues which are swollen. There is then no blister and since the nerves are destroyed, only the area of the burn is painful.
But beware, the degrees are not necessarily indicators of the severity of the burn, explains Doctor Pascal Cassan, emergency doctor and national medical adviser to the French Red Cross. “If third degree burns are always serious, first and second degree burns are not necessarily simple”, he specifies.
What are the causes of burns?
Burns can be thermal, chemical or electrical.
The main cause of thermal burns is “boiling water in the kitchen, which can have dramatic consequences “, notes Doctor Cassan. It causes burns, the location of which varies depending on the size of the person burned: “if it is a child, the burn will be on the level of the head or face, or even the whole body. If it is an adult, it will rather affect the arms, the legs or the genitals “, details the emergency doctor.
In the kitchen, boiling water is not the only danger: “the hotplates or the doors of old ovens which remain hot represent a danger, in particular for hands young children “, alert Doctor Cassan.
Other cause of thermal burn: barbecues, which cause severe burns to the girdle and genitals in adults and face in children.
the Sun is also the cause of particular burns that are commonly called Sun burn.
And that’s not all : chemicals can also cause burns. This is the case with caustic soda, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, bleach or even the contents of batteries, which can be very corrosive.
All these products cause “burns which can be extremely serious depending on the part of the body affected and problematic in their treatment”, regrets the emergency doctor.
At last, a burn may be of electrical origin. Doctors then speak of electrification. It corresponds to the passage of an electric current in the body. Electrification can be responsible for burns to the skin, but also along the path followed by the current in the body. This burn can sometimes be of the second or third degree.
What are the complications of burns?
The main complication of a burn is the infection. “If a burn turns red, painful, and hot, if it oozes or if it is accompanied by fever, it is necessary to consult because these are signs of infection “, warns Doctor Cassan.
Another possible complication is the dehydration. Thereby “a sunburn, even if it corresponds to a first degree burn, can cause dehydration if it is extensive, especially in children or the elderly”, warns the emergency doctor.
Finally, there is also a risk of aesthetic consequences if the burn heals poorly. The skin will then be retracted, and will even require a skin graft in the most severe cases.
How do you tell the difference between a simple burn and a severe burn?
There are several factors to take into account when assessing the severity of a burn.
The first is its area : “the burn is serious if its size is greater than half of the palm of the victim’s hand” describes doctor Pascal Cassan. “In a young child, this critical size is therefore quickly reached”.
Next, the depth must also be taken into account. “If the burn is blackish or whitish, it is because the deep tissues are affected: it is therefore serious”, continues the emergency doctor.
Finally, the severity depends on the victim: about his age – a skin burn is more severe in young children and the elderly – or if it is a person who has a chronic illness, especially diabetes and immune diseases.
How to relieve depending on the type of burn? What to apply?
What to put on a burn? Whatever the type of burn, just one thing is to do urgently: water abundantly. “As part of the thermal burn, water decreases the extent of the burn, relieves pain and reduces the consequences. If the burn is chemical, the water dilutes the product”, explains Doctor Cassan. It is best to use running water – shower head or tap -, for about twenty minutes. The water should be cold, ideally 15 degrees, but should not be ice cold.
At the same time, the accident scene must be protected and “evacuate what caused the burn to avoid a second victim”, he adds.
Last advice from the emergency physician: unless it is a tiny burn on my finger for example, do not run water directly on the burn to calm it, but make it run off upstream.
A bandage ? Secondly, on the advice of the doctor or pharmacist, the burn can be treated. with fatty tulle or specialized ointments and creams, such as Biafine.
Bad things to avoid in the event of a burn
Several natural remedies are used to try to soothe burns. But beware of preconceived ideas. For example, avoid putting ice on the burn, because “it increases the lesions of the skin by suddenly closing the vessels”, laments Doctor Cassan. Instead of relieving it, the ice on the contrary accentuates the consequences of the burn on the skin.
What about cucumber, yogurt or even mint toothpaste? “Their soothing effect comes from the fact that they are fresh. But always prefer running water because anything that is put on the burn can cause an infection”, warns the emergency doctor.
Finally, if the burn is blistering, iYou should never pierce them because this gesture opens the door to germs and therefore to infections.
Grandma’s anti-burn remedies to forget!
Even if they are still often used, it’s not what we do best …
• Put butter or oil on the burn. Using fat responds to a certain logic: the skin is made up, especially on its surface, of fatty molecules. During a burn, these cells are destroyed and their regeneration would then be accelerated by the application of fatty substances. But, unfortunately, it can carry the risk of infection.
•The raw potato slice. It is still used, with the aim – they say – to reduce pain (the starch of the potato would act as an anti-inflammatory). But this too risks bringing germs.
• Mint toothpaste applied for the feeling of cool … In fact, it terribly increases the inflammatory reaction. In addition, it can cause seizures in children.
What are the signs of urgency to consult?
There are several emergency signs that should prompt you to consult.
- The first is the size of the burn. “If it is more than half a palm of the victim’s hand, call 15 and ask for advice”, insists Doctor Cassan.
- Then a burn located near a “natural orifice” must be considered serious: burns to the mouth, lips, eyes, anus or genitals are potentially serious because these areas are for bacteria entry doors into our bodies and can therefore become infected very quickly.
- At last, any blackish or whitish burn requires medical advice because “these two colors are a sign that the burn is deep”, reminds the emergency doctor.
Sources:
- Interview with doctor Pascal Cassan, emergency doctor and national medical adviser to the French Red Cross.
- Brûlure, Vidal.fr, March 24, 2020
- Domestic accidents: Skin burns, Ameli.fr, May 3, 2021
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- Bruises: why I still have bruises
- Tendinitis: what are the symptoms? how to relieve it?
- Soon a single emergency number in France: 112
