QUESTION: Would you please help me win a bet? The question is about the proper treatment of burns.
I say they should be left exposed to the air, and my partner insists they require a dressing to heal properly.
Since we have a lot of minor burns happening in our shop, your answer will not only settle the bet, but become our rule for burn care.
ANSWER: I may have to hedge a bit, because this answer, like so many in medicine, depends upon the situation.
Let me start with one important rule for you.
All burns should be cooled by applying cold, wet compresses, or if possible, sticking the injured part into ice water, until proper treatment can be provided.
No butter, no margarine, no grease which can only complicate the treatment and lead to bacterial infection of the wound.
If the burn is truly minor, that means it is superficial, only causing the skin to become reddened and tender (the old "first degree" burn), you need only apply a mild emollient or softening cream to reduce the swelling and pain.
Creams which contain aloe are very helpful.
If you consider this a dressing, you have lost your bet. With more serious burns, which form blisters, or where there is tissue loss, bandaging is required to keep the wound clean, and protect the area from further injury, so that healing can proceed without difficulty.
In the case of a blister, the fluid should be removed using a sterile needle, leaving the skin over the blister in place to protect the underlying tissue and prevent the wound from drying out.
When a burn wound drys out (desiccates), more cells die, and there is more loss of skin and scarring.
Serious burns require proper dressings that will prevent drying out yet prevent the fluid serum to accumulate (in which infection may occur), as well as protect the wound, and not stick to the skin as the healing process progresses.
Newly developed two ply synthetic membrane dressings may be used to accomplish all these goals. Of course wounds that require such dressings are major and best left to the care of your physician.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
