Our skin is weak; I am sure I am not wrong when I say that we have all burned ourselves at some time to a greater or lesser extent. Whether it’s spending more time than it should lie on the beach or because of the oil that leaps out while you fry a croquette, we have ever suffered the pain, itching, and discomfort that heat-damaged skin produces.
If you have been burned, in this FastlyHealarticle, we will clarify everything you need to know about how to treat and how long it takes to heal a burn; if you have not burned, you will learn everything you need when it happens, and you are more than prepared.
Table of Contents
Types of burns
Burns are injuries to organic tissue caused by external agents such as the sun’s rays, fire, electricity, or corrosive substances. But not all burns are the same; due to their severity, the type of agent that caused them, and the subsequent sequelae that this injury may leave behind, it is necessary to establish a classification to distinguish them.
This classification is made based on the severity of the burn and is established from the depth of the burn, the time to which the person has been exposed to the agent, the area of the body where it is located or the age of the person affected. Next, we will explain the three types of burns that exist.
First degree burns
First-degree burns are the least severe and with the fewest complications since their involvement is limited to the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin . The most common first-degree burns cause long exposures to sunlight and from immediate contact with hot objects, such as plates or hot liquids.
The consequences of this type of burn are varied, depending on the cause and affectation, but are limited to:
- Pain
- Redness of the skin
- Inflammation
How long does it take to heal?
As we have explained, first-degree burns are the less serious ones; in turn, they are also the ones that heal faster. It takes about three to five days for a person who has suffered a burn to recover from the affectation without any marks or scarring fully. If you want to know more about sunburns, do not hesitate to visit this article.
Second degree burns
Unlike first-degree burns, which only affect the epidermis, second-degree burns also affect the middle layer of the skin , the dermis. Usually, this type of injury is caused by exposure to flames or spilling a boiling liquid, such as water or oil. Depending on the depth of the burn, it will cause more or less pain; paradoxically, the deeper it is, the less painful it will be since if it has affected the dermis, it can cancel the pain sensitivity. Apart from this, the consequences of second-degree burns are:
- Redness of the skin
- The color change can range from bright red to yellowish.
- Inflammation
- Blisters
How long does it take to heal?
Recovery times for a second-degree burn vary widely, but if the damage is not very severe, it can take 15-20 days for the wound to heal. However, if the dermis has been deeply affected, healing times can be extended even months and may require surgical interventions to repair damage to the skin or muscle. In any case, in second-degree burns, scarring chances are very high once healed.
Third-degree burns
This is the highest degree of severity that a burn can have; in this type of injury, the skin is burned, even burning fat, muscles, bones, tendons, and nerves, so they cancel the sensitivity and do not hurt.
The most common causes of third-degree burns are caused by prolonged exposure to flames or direct contact with boiling liquids, causing:
- Skin that looks white or charred
- Dry and puffy skin
- It can lead to amputations or organ loss.
As you can see, third-degree burns are severe injuries, so medical attention must be immediate. Correct medical treatment is vital so that the affected person can recover his functionalities and appearance to the maximum through skin grafts and operations. Even more importantly, he can save his life.
How long does it take to heal?
It is very unpredictable to calculate the healing times of a second degree burn since this period can extend from weeks to months or years. Among the factors that can lengthen or decrease healing are the burned surface, the depth of the burn, whether surgery is necessary, the patient’s nutritional status, or whether there are infectious complications.
First aid for a burn
What to do
- Eliminate the cause of the burn: extinguish the flames, remove the chemical or liquid in contact with the skin, etc.
- Remove anything that keeps you warm, such as clothing or jewelry.
- For first-degree burns, applying moisturizers or aloe vera will relieve itching and reduce recovery time.
- Refresh the burned area by applying water, avoiding being very cold.
- Bandage the wound without pressing with wet gauze.
What not to do
- The flames should never be extinguished with water; to do so, we must cover the person with blankets or clothing or make them roll on the ground.
- You should never apply ointments, creams, or toothpaste to the burned area; you can only use water. In case of a first-degree burn, you can apply moisturizer or aloe vera.
- The burned should not be cooled too much; if it is done, it can cause hypothermia.
- You should not be given pain relievers or alcohol by mouth.
- The blisters that come out as a result of burns protect the body against infection. Therefore they should not break. In the following article, we give you tips to treat blisters.
- Do not detach clothing from the body; it should only be removed if it is not stuck or is difficult.
- The victim should never be left alone; as far as possible, we will take her with us if she has to go for help.
In the following article, you will find more information on first aid for burns.
Home remedies for minor burns
In case of minor burns, such as those caused by exposure to the sun or minor domestic burns, we can use different natural products that will help our body to regenerate damaged tissue. Among these products, the following stand out:
- Lavender oil is one of the few oils that can be used for injuries of this type; thanks to its analgesic and antiseptic properties, it can significantly relieve itching and pain. The best application method is to pour a little lavender oil on a clean gauze and apply the gauze to the burned area of the body.
- Aloe vera: One of the best ways to treat a first degree burn is by applying aloe vera gel to the burned area.
- Coldwater: although it may sound obvious, water is the best and most recommended remedy to treat burns. It should never be done with ice or water that is too cold; wet cloths or gauze with fresh water and apply them to the affected area.
- Onion: Besides being an excellent natural antiseptic, it also has moisturizing qualities. Scrubbing an onion cut in half through the burn will significantly reduce pain while preventing future blisters.
In the following FastlyHealarticle, you will find more home remedies to heal burns .
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.