Burns are relatively common injuries. that can happen in multiple scenarios, such as cooking at home. It is important to know how to act when they occur, since repeated home remedies ad nauseam, such as applying toothpaste, are not recommended.
Regarding the causes that can produce a burn, in young children, the most frequent cause of burns is the scald in the context of food preparation and consumption.
For his part, adolescents tend to burn more with flame, due to accidents with lighters or motorcycle gasoline. Adults, mainly of working age, are also more frequently burned by flames, while the elderly often get burned by scaldslike children or, due to the limited mobility they sometimes have, burn themselves in the kitchen, the expert distinguishes.
Burns are of different types and their classification depends on their severity, that is, according to theto affectation in the layers of the skin.
Thus, the mildest are first degree burns, in which only the upper layer of the skin, the epidermis, is affected. Among its characteristics, redness stands out, they are painful and are typical of sunburns.
Second degree burns, the next step relative to severity because they affect to the epidermis and part of the dermisThey can be of two types. If only the most superficial layer of skin is affected, it is a superficial second degree burn; if deeper layers of the dermis are affected, it is a deep second-degree burn.
The defining characteristics of a superficial second-degree burn are blistering, painful, and usually have a good prognosis. Are are typical of hot liquids but with little densitysuch as water or milk.
On the other hand, the characteristics of a deep second degree burn are a red or whiter color, there may be no blisters and they are also relatively painful, but, since there is a lot of destruction of nerve endings, they are sometimes not as painful as superficial ones. This case, which can be caused by flames or high-density hot liquids, such as oil, is more serious and, in fact, may even require surgical treatment.
Lastly are third degree burns. The most serious and in which all the layers of the skin are affected, such as fat or fascias, in this case, the skin appears inelastic, white or dark and does not usually hurt. They are produced by chemicals, very hot liquids, electricity or flames.
How to proceed
In this context, with a burn that occurs at home, the first thing to do is cool it with tap water for as long as necessary until the pain subsides. No ice water or ice, ice can cause burns.
The water has to be at tap temperature, at current temperature, ruling out the use of home remedies such as toothpaste, bleach, egg white or aloe vera plant. Bleach deepens the wound and the fact of having to remove what has been applied can make the cure more painful.
Water and nothing else, and after this, seek medical attention, go to a health center to assess the burn. You have to evaluate the burn, see the degree it has And, even depending on the location, if it is located in what we call noble areas, such as the face, neck or feet, it could have to be referred to a burn unit with specific personnel for treatment.