Burns

by Regan and Tanya

Everyone has burnt themselves at one point or another. It may have been by carelessly touching a hot surface, your curiosity getting the best of you, or an unfortunate and tragic accident.

Different type of burns

1st degree burns: A first-degree burn only affects the outermost layer of the skin aka the superficial layer (epidermis). It is typically a

minor burn that does not require medical attention. Blisters often form over the injured area. Underneath the skin, white blood cells work to get rid of bacteria that may have snuck in when the skin was compromised. At the same time, fibroblasts repair the skin, which sometimes can lead to a scar. Fibroblasts are a type of cell that makes collagen and extracellular matrix. They play an important role in repairing damage to the skin. To treat a first-degree burn, one must soak the wounded area in cool water for about 5 minutes. One can take over-the-counter pain medicine to relieve some of the pain and inflammation or apply antibacterial ointment and wrap in gauze to reduce one’s chance of infection. In most cases, first degree burns don't require medical attention, but if the burn is large enough or located in an inconvenient, painful spot like the hands or feet it might need medical attention.

Second Degree burns: A second-degree burn, or partial thickness burn, involves both the epidermis and dermis. They are the two uppermost layers of skin. Second-degree burns can range in severity. They can be minor, for example, a small burn from the stove, or they can be major and potentially life-threatening. The difference between a first and second-degree burn is that: a first-degree burn injures only the uppermost layer of skin(the epidermis), whereas in a second-degree burn, both the epidermis and dermis are involved. Second-degree burns can be extremely painful and may take several weeks to heal. Some symptoms include blisters, wet-seeping wounds, and intense pain. A second-degree burn requires medical attention and is extremely susceptible to life-threatening infections. While waiting for medical attention try to remove any clothing or jewelry that may be covering the burn. Run the burn under cool water. Cover the burn and don’t mess with it. When you get to doctors, the treatment will depend on the infectivity of the burn. You may need a simple antibiotic cream, or you may need to be admitted to the hospital for monitoring. In very severe cases, the patient may need a skin graph, which is when healthy skin is transplanted to the area where the burn occurred.

Third-degree burn: A third-degree burn, or a full-thickness burn, is when the outermost layer of skin (epidermis) and the lower level (dermis) are completely destroyed and even extends into the layer of fat below the dermis. Third-degree burns can be life-threatening and require medical attention. A 3rd-degree burn may cause the skin to become charred black or white and appear dry or waxy. A 3rd-degree burn may not even cause pain at the time of the burn because the skin is so damaged that the nerves are no longer sending and receiving pain signals. A 3rd degree may also cause dehydration because the skin helps to maintain a great majority of our body's water. Most third-degree burns require extensive medical attention. Skins graphs or synthetic skin may be used on the damaged skin. Intravenous (IV) fluids may be given to help restore some of the water loss and intravenous antibiotics may be given as well.

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Bibliography

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