Even the smallest skin burns need timely and proper treatment. Choosing the right one prevents any bigger issues.
Burns refer to a kind of injury that takes place when something hot damages the tissue of your body. They can become more severe when they are deeper. Around 46,000 burn injuries are recorded in Canada every year, costing $366 million annually to the healthcare system. Here are the different degrees of burns.
The different types of skin burns are thermal, chemical, radiation, friction, and electrical. Skin burns have a direct impact on the extent of tissue damage. Therefore, you need a proper early treatment. In this blog, we will talk about some expert tips that a dermatologist in Gatineau can suggest to tackle skin burn.
What are the Expert Tips from Dermatologists to Deal with Skin Burns?
Ignoring any type of skin burn can lead to bigger problems. Hence, you need effective treatment. Here are five expert tips from skin care specialists to treat skin burns.
1. Cooling the Burn Place Immediately and Properly
Cooling the burn area immediately is a dermatological emergency (dermatologue urgence) that you must perform if you experience any kind of burn. Holding the place under cool (not cold) running water for 10 to 20 minutes. This results in lowering pain and reducing tissue damage.
Avoid using ice as it can damage skin tissue further while lowering blood flow. Let’s see what can be applied and what to avoid while countering a skin burn.
| Activity | Whether to do | Why |
| Running cool water for 10 to 20 minutes | Yes | Lowering heat and tissue damage |
| Applying ice directly | No | Worsening the injury |
| Using toothpaste | No | Increasing the risk of infection |
| Applying aloe vera | Yes | Soothing and moisturizing the skin |
Table 1: What to Do vs What to Avoid
2. Applying the Correct Burn-Safe Topical Products
After performing the first aid, you need to proceed to the medical procedure (medicine or ointment). If you have a minor burn, you can go for petroleum jelly. For the major ones, you can go for aloe vera gel, hydrogel, and non-perfumed moisturizers.
Choosing the wrong product can lead to serious consequences, and you need to keep that in mind. Don’t use any perfumed lotion. It’s better to contact a dermatologist in Gatineau if you use any OTC antibiotics. Ignore home remedies.
3. Protecting the Burn with Proper Dressings
Treating skin burn is not restricted to using topical products only. You need to protect the area, and getting the right dressing is important. You must go for sterile, non-stick dressings, like hydrocolloids, fine mesh gauze, etc.
Try not to keep a bandage for a day. Hence, you need to perform dressing every day. Here are the different types of dressings and their probable uses.
| Dressing type | Best for | Notes |
| Non-stick gauze pads | Minor superficial burns | Gentle and breathable |
| Hydrogel dressings | Painful or drying burns | Offers moisture |
| Silicone dressings | Fragile or sensitive skin | Lowers scarring |
Table 2: Different Types of Dressings and Their Best Uses
4. Ignore UV Rays
You need to take care of the burn area so that a good recovery is seen. Post-burn hyperpigmentation is a type of skin darkening after a burn that is caused when melanin production becomes high during the healing phase. To prevent this, you need to limit sun exposure.
Even if you heal from the pain, you need to proceed with the maintenance procedure. Like, you need to use high SPF (SPF 50) sunscreen for months so that better healing is ensured. A skin burn is surely a dermatological emergency (dermatologue urgence), and you need timely care, but the aftercare is also equally important.
See also: Is It a Medical Emergency? Key Triage Decision Points You Should Know
5. Seeking Immediate Dermatology Care
A common mistake that many people make is that they continue with home remedies while ignoring specialist care. This often accounts for any major dermatological problems. Here are some of the signs that indicate the need for visiting a dermatologist in Gatineau.
- Burns larger than the palm
- Large blisters
- Facial, hand, or groin burns
- Deep, white, or charred areas
- Infection (pus, increased redness)
How to Ensure Long-Term Care for Skin Burns?
To avoid any issues in the future, you need to consider long-term care. This is important to prevent scarring. Well, this is not needed for the minor burns. Let’s see the key considerations.
- Massage gently
- Apply silicone gels
- Ignore popping blisters
Wrapping Up
Skin burns can lead to serious consequences if left untreated. Hence, you need to choose the right type of care without wasting time. Some key expert tips include immediate cooling of the burn site, applying the right burn-safe topical products, limiting sun exposure, etc. You need to consult a dermatologist in Gatineau if the burn is larger than the palm or if there are large blisters.
Treating Skin Burns in the Right Manner?
After performing the first aid, you need to seek urgent dermatology services. Choose a renowned dermatology clinic in Gatineau to obtain the right treatment. Check whether the clinic offers diverse skin treatments. Get rid of any further skin damage.
