How to treat a 2nd degree burn from boiling water

None of us are immune from such household injury as a burn with boiling water. At such moments, most people begin to panic: they don’t know what to do, where to run or how to help the victim. You should get your bearings and calmly, without worry, provide first aid. It is very important. After all, how deeply the burn will spread and what area of ​​skin it will affect depends on how correctly and timely the assistance was provided.

What do people begin to do at the level of instinct? They run to the bath and expose the affected area to running water. Of course, it is better not to use running tap water, but to pour water into a bucket and use it. There are two important points to consider:

1. use cool water, but in no case cold, otherwise you can cause shock due to sudden hypothermia by such actions;
2. While the affected area of ​​skin is in the water, try to assess the degree of the burn.

How to correctly assess the extent of the burn surface?

The following features are typical for a first-degree boiling water burn:

1. superficial lesion;
2. hyperemia;
3. edema;
4. small bubbles.

With the second degree, the characteristics change slightly:

1. the burn is also superficial, but a little deeper;
2. the bubbles are tense or have already burst;
3. swelling;
4. redness;
5. a thin scab is formed.

As for the third degree, the burn has the following features:

1. the burn surface is so deep that it reaches the muscle fibers;
2. small blisters have already burst;
3. the presence of a dry crust.

The most severe, fourth degree, is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. the lesion reaches the skeletal system;
2. necrosis of surface tissue occurs;
3. fabrics become charred and blackened.

If we talk about the first and second degrees of severity, then, as can be seen from the clinical picture, this is not so scary, so you can treat a burn at these stages at home.

The main point is that the burn surface area should be no more than one percent, which roughly corresponds to the size of a human palm.

Even in the first and second stages, if the lesion has affected the bone, face, genitals, then it is better not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor. The fact is that the scarring process may be associated with the occurrence of certain problems.

In case of third and fourth degree - serious injuries - you should immediately call an ambulance. The danger is posed by a burn of more than five percent; in this case, the risk of developing burn disease increases, a condition in which shock occurs and the functioning of the entire body is disrupted.

Regarding the specifics of treating young children, it is important to understand that the child’s body can react to injury individually and sometimes very unpredictably. There is a very high risk of complications, so it is better not to experiment, but to seek qualified help.

What further actions should be taken?

The main objectives of further measures include the following:

1. cooling the burn surface;
2. prevention of possible infection;
3. anesthesia.

If you wash the burn surface with soap and water, this will be a good prevention of possible infection. Cooling can be continued by placing a cloth moistened with cold water on the affected area of ​​the skin.

To relieve pain, you can give some analgesic drug; to reduce swelling, you will need to use antihistamines. It is worth understanding that the body loses a large amount of fluid through the wound surface, so the victim should drink plenty of plain water.

How to properly treat a burn with boiling water?

There are two methods to properly treat a burn with boiling water, namely:

The open method does not involve applying a bandage, while the closed method involves the use of a bandage.

Although the open method is more productive, it is associated with risks of infection.

A specialist should determine the methods, but at first, bandages are always used to prevent infection.

The burn surface is treated with an antiseptic solution, a sterile napkin is applied, and then a bandage is applied.

Choose antiseptics that, in addition to their main action, have other properties:

1. analgesic effect;
2. regenerating features;
3. reducing weeping;
4. antibacterial properties.

Subsequently, when the damaged area stops oozing, it can be treated with fat-based ointments. This is effective, since at this stage it is necessary to accelerate the processes of epithelization and elastic scar tissue should form.

As you can see, in order to cure a burn with boiling water, a whole range of measures are needed, which are carried out in stages. But what mistakes are made during the provision of assistance and what should never be done?

What should you not do?

Let's talk about common mistakes that you should avoid:

1. After a burn, immediately lubricate the affected area with fats of animal or vegetable origin. The fact is that fats help retain heat in the wound. Moreover, fats are a favorable environment for the development of the infectious process;
2. treating the affected surface with irritating antiseptic agents, namely: alcohol, iodine, potassium permanganate, etc. The use of these agents causes severe pain, due to which it will be difficult for a specialist to assess the extent of the burn surface;
3. Apply ice to the wound without wrapping it in cloth. This will worsen the situation, adding frostbite to the burn.

Features of treatment at home

I would like to immediately note that many people simply do not know how to properly treat burns on their own at home, so as a result, at best, such measures will not produce results, and at worst, they will lead to the development of serious complications.

Treatment at home is possible if the following two important conditions are met:

1. superficial minor burns;
2. absence of symptoms indicating secondary infection: red swollen edges, purulent discharge from the wound, chills, fever, etc.

For local treatment of a burn surface at home, you need to have the following things:

1. sterile bandage;
2. antiseptic solution for hand treatment;
3. medical gloves;
4. peroxide, iodine, brilliant green;
5. cotton buds;
6. gauze swabs;
7. medical elastic mesh.

Let's talk about the basic principles of home treatment for burns with boiling water:

1. the dressing material must be exclusively sterile;
2. the use of gel forms of drugs in the first stages of treatment promotes better granulation;
3. when the wound surface dries out, you can use ointment forms of preparations, this will contribute to the formation of a protective film;
4. As a local treatment for a damaged surface, emphasis should be placed on those medications that promote restoration processes and also accelerate the healing process.

So, each of us can get burned by boiling water. In such situations, do not panic; act quickly, but carefully and competently. Do not waste precious minutes of time and provide first aid to the victim before the doctors arrive. Consulting a doctor is the key to your health!

Boiling water burn – a type of thermal burn with damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue under the influence of hot liquid. It is a common injury in everyday life, and about a third of the victims are small children. The treatment regimen, recovery period and consequences of the burn depend on the degree and area of ​​damage, as well as correctly provided first aid.

Photo 1. Careless handling of boiling water can cost a child dearly. Source: Flickr (CHILDREN AT RISK FOUNDATION).

Degree of skin damage from boiling water

All thermal injuries are classified depending on the depth of tissue damage. Burns from boiling liquid are characterized by 1-3 degrees:

1. I degree. The topmost layer of the skin is partially damaged. Redness, slight swelling and burning pain occur. After a few days, such a burn heals without traces.
2. II degree. In this case, the surface layer of the skin is completely damaged. Small blisters containing clear liquid form on it, and when opened, bright red erosions are visible. The damage goes away in a maximum of two weeks and also without scarring.
3. III degree is divided into several subspecies. IIIA - complete damage to the upper and partially deep layers of the skin with the formation of large blisters with liquid and a burn scab (a soft whitish crust on the wound). IIIB – the skin is completely destroyed, sometimes the subcutaneous tissue is affected. The pain at this stage is moderate because the nerve endings are destroyed.
4. IV degree, with damage to fiber, muscles, bones, is not typical for burns with boiling water.

The area of ​​the injured surface is also important, since even the mildest degree, affecting more than 10% of the body, requires qualified medical care.

First aid for burns with boiling water

The severity of the injury, the duration of treatment, and the risk of complications depend on what you do immediately after receiving an injury.

If the damage is minor, then it is not necessary to go to a medical facility. Deep or extensive burns require qualified medical care in a hospital.

Rules for first aid at home

What you need to do in case of a burn from boiling water:

1. Eliminate the traumatic factor (stop contact with hot liquid).
2. Cool downdamagedarea of ​​skin within 10-15 minutes. This can be done under running water, using snow or ice. Cooling prevents heating of intact tissue surrounding the burn area and reduces pain.

It is important! Cold is used only for grades 1 and 2 of injury. More severe injuries do not need to be refrigerated.

1. Apply a loose sterile dressing, freeing the burned area of ​​the body from clothing. If the fabric is stuck, trim it along the edges, without under any circumstances trying to tear it off.
2. Take an analgesic. 2 tablets of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen will do.
3. Contact a medical facilityif the burn is mild but extensive, or call an ambulance in more severe cases. Minor damage can be treated with panthenol-based anti-burn agents and a bandage applied.
4. It is strictly forbidden to: open blisters, smear the burn with vegetable or animal fats, brilliant green and other available means.

Features of providing assistance to children

First aid for a child is provided according to a similar scheme.

The burn should be immediately cooled, removed from clothing, covered with a sterile bandage or cloth, and given an age-appropriate pain reliever.

Suitable medications include Panadol and Nurofen.

If the damage is minor (the skin is red in a small area), you can use Panthenol and do not consult a doctor. More serious burns (especially of the face) are a reason for emergency hospitalization.

Note! When assessing the severity and area of ​​damage to a child’s burn, the criteria are halved. That is, a grade 1 injury that occupies more than 5% of the body surface requires mandatory medical attention.

Guidelines for helping with blisters

Bubbles with liquid that appear in 2nd and 3rd degree burns serve as a kind of protection against infection of the wound. That's why open them on your own under no circumstances it is forbidden. The doctor trims large blisters to remove exudate, after which he applies a bandage with an antiseptic. There is no need to touch the small ones - after a few days they go away on their own.

Treatment of burns from boiling water

Lungs 1st degree injuries should be treated with an anti-burn agent and covered with a bandage for a couple of days (it does not need to be changed). For 2nd degree injury you need to apply bandages with bactericidal ointments, changing them every 2 days. Heavier and extensive damage are treated in a hospital using a closed (under a bandage) method or an open method - without it. In case of tissue necrosis, they are excised.

How to treat a burn at home

If a burn with boiling water does not require hospitalization, outpatient treatment is prescribed. It is aimed at accelerating tissue regeneration, pain relief and preventing infectious and inflammatory processes.

Painkillers

First degree burns are characterized by severe pain immediately after injury, but subsequently do not require pain relief. If more significant damage is being treated on an outpatient basis, then oral administration of the following drugs is indicated:

1. Analgin
2. Paracetamol
3. Ibuprofen
4. Panadol or Nurofen for children.

The doctor may also prescribe bandages with analgesic solutions. Lidocaine is usually used.

Ointments and other medications

These funds are intended to prevent wound infection and accelerate its healing. Used only as prescribed by a doctor. The following gels and ointments are recommended for dressing:

1. Levomekol – antimicrobial agent;
2. Solcoseryl – accelerates regeneration processes;
3. Baneocin – combined antibiotic;
4. Bepanten – wound healing cream.

Taking into account the characteristics of the injury and the patient’s condition, other drugs may be prescribed, both for external use and oral. It is also advisable to take vitamin and mineral complexes.

Фото 2. Основное правило пользования мазями — регулярность. Источник: Flickr (Kenga86).

How to prevent scars

It is not always possible to avoid an aesthetically unpleasant reminder of injury without the use of plastic surgery methods. The use of ointments and anti-scar patches will only help in case of minor injuries. Particularly effective drugs are: Contractubex, Zeraderm, Dermatix.

Prevention of burns

Basic ingredients will help prevent thermal burns from boiling water. caution at work and at home.

To protect children from injuries of this kind, they should not be left unattended even for the shortest period of time.

It’s easy to douse yourself with hot soup or tea. Thermal burns are often caused by curious children who love to check their mother's pots and cups. Adults who like to place dishes with boiling water on the edge of a table or an unstable surface suffer. If hot liquid comes into contact with your skin, you should not panic, but act. The sooner a person is given first aid, the higher the likelihood that everything will end with a slight fright and a small swelling.

Degree of damage

The wet clothes are removed from the patient who has been doused with boiling water. The damaged areas are examined and the extent to which the skin is damaged is determined:

1. Redness and swelling indicate first degree burns. Boiling water damaged only the top layer of the epidermis, which is quickly restored.
2. Blisters and swelling are second degree symptoms. If you properly care for wounds that form from burst blisters, the skin will recover after 2 weeks.
3. In the third degree, the blisters open immediately after the epithelium comes into contact with boiling water. Soft tissues are damaged, so deep ulcers form on the affected area, in which yellow fatty tissue can be seen.
4. People who fall into a container of hot water receive fourth-degree burns. Prolonged contact with boiling water damages muscles and tendons. Soft tissues die, their rejection and rotting begin.

Only first and second degree burns can be treated at home. You should go to the hospital if boiling water comes into contact with your face, head, neck, chest or genitals. It is forbidden to self-medicate if a small child is injured. The patient must be examined by a doctor. He will determine the degree of the burn and select medications that accelerate healing and restoration of the epithelium.

Cold and disinfection

The part of the body that has been exposed to boiling water is immediately placed under the tap and cool water is turned on. Low temperatures slow down blood circulation, relieving swelling, and dulling pain. Reduces the chance of blisters appearing on burned skin.

Do not turn on ice water. A sharp temperature change is a shock for the injured epithelium. A person gets frostbite, which leads to the death of the top layer of skin. Ulcers form that do not heal for a long time. The risk of infection and suppuration of the burn increases.

Keep the reddened arm or leg under running cool water for 20 minutes, then apply soap suds to the affected area to cleanse it of bacteria. The skin is carefully wiped with a piece of sterile bandage and treated with an antiseptic.

Calendula tincture, vodka and peroxide only increase pain and inflammation. Alcohol-containing preparations irritate the skin and slow down recovery. Thermal burns are treated with aqueous solutions and aerosols.

Liquid antiseptic can be prepared from furatsilin. Grind 10 tablets and combine with a liter of hot water. Wait for the solution to cool and pour over the blisters. Do not allow the product to get into open wounds. If there is no furatsilin in the medicine cabinet, the drug is replaced with penicillin. The skin is sprinkled with powder from tablets. The product soothes, disinfects and protects against blisters.

If there is no cool water in the house, a piece of meat from the freezer will come in handy. Place the workpiece in a clean plastic bag and wrap it with a sterile bandage. Cover the exposed skin with a cloth and place a cold compress on top. Frozen meat stops swelling and relieves pain. The product must not be applied to bare skin. Fabric and gauze protect the epithelium from infection and frostbite.

Important: Apply ice only to red areas that do not have blisters. The skin on which the blisters have formed is treated with antiseptics, and then a bandage is applied.

Medications for burns from boiling water

Do not rub vegetable oil or baby cream into blisters and fresh wounds. Any product containing fat is contraindicated. It forms a film that prevents the skin from breathing. Fat is an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. Microbes enter the burn and infection begins. Pus forms in the ulcers, and inflammation spreads to healthy tissue.

The skin around the burn is lubricated with iodine or wiped with an alcohol-containing antiseptic, for example, peroxide or Chlorhexidine. Drugs should not come into contact with fresh wounds. Ulcers are treated with gels or aerosols:

1. Solcoseryl dries burst blisters. The gel heals and restores the skin.
2. Panthenol is recommended for thermal burns. The drug relieves burning, pain and soothes redness. Helps with swelling and gently disinfects wounds. For burns, it is worth buying Panthenol in aerosol form.
3. Argovasna Nut is a gel that is recommended for second degree burns. The product removes redness, reduces blisters and dries out sores. Disinfects the skin, starts regeneration processes. Thanks to the gel, there are no scars left.
4. Riciniol is an anti-inflammatory antiseptic that relieves pain and restores the epithelium. Accelerates the healing of burns, protects against scars.
5. Olazol is a spray that contains antimicrobial substances and sea buckthorn oil. The drug helps with burning, minor swelling and blisters. The product is convenient to apply to open wounds.

The area where the boiling water comes in is immediately treated with Sulfargin ointment. The drug stops the death of deep layers of the epithelium and prevents the appearance of blisters. Disinfects and soothes discomfort.

Levomekol ointment is applied to dried wounds that are 2-3 days old. The product is applied in a thick layer to a piece of sterile bandage. Distribute evenly over the tissue and cover the injured skin with a compress. A bandage is applied on top, which is removed after 20 hours. Levomekol disinfects and heals wounds, draws out pus.

The ulcers, lubricated with an antiseptic, are bandaged. You can apply a bandage made of clean natural fabric, which is ironed several times with a hot iron. Wait until the material cools down and then apply it to the burned skin.

A person who has spilled boiling water on himself is advised to lie down for 1–2 hours. The body needs to rest after stress. The affected limb is raised by placing a pillow or a roll of blanket under it. This will reduce the swelling.

Folk remedies

A first-degree burn is treated with baking soda paste. Pour a few tablespoons of powder into a cup and dilute with cool water. A piece of ice is applied to the limb, and then a paste of soda is applied for 10–15 minutes. Residues are removed with a damp cloth. The product relieves pain and prevents the appearance of blisters.

A wound that is less than 2 days old is treated only with pharmaceutical antiseptics and ointments. Ulcers covered with a hard crust can be treated with traditional methods:

1. Peel two medium carrots and grate. Distribute the crushed mass evenly over a piece of gauze. Place a carrot compress on the burned area and remove after 2 hours. The juice will remove discomfort and inflammation.
2. Place an enamel pan over low heat and pour 100 ml of unrefined oil into it. Take olive, flax or sunflower. Place 100 g of real butter in a container and add the same amount of pork fat. Wait until the ingredients melt. Combine with 10 g of beeswax. Stir, add a teaspoon of crushed propolis to the mixture. When the components turn into a homogeneous paste, you need to add 5 g of sulfur to the hot ointment. The workpiece is wrapped in a gauze bag and dipped in the mixture for 15 minutes. Then the product is removed from the stove, cooled and rubbed into the ulcers to speed up healing.
3. Pick a few fresh plantain leaves. Rinse the herb under the tap, dry it and mash it with a rolling pin or your fingers until the juice comes out. You can grind the plant in a blender. Plantain is applied to the burn for 20–40 minutes three times a day. There is no need to rinse off the remaining juice.
4. Swelling and inflammation are removed by natural green and black tea. Prepare a strong drink. Do not add honey or sugar. Wait until the tea cools down and soak a gauze pad in the product. Apply a compress 7–8 times a day.
5. A fresh first-degree burn is treated with a chicken egg. The white is separated from the yolk, beaten and applied to the affected skin and healthy areas around it. The burning sensation that appears immediately after application will disappear after 3-5 minutes. If you quickly treat the burned epithelium with protein, there will be no blisters.
6. Potato starch also helps. You can buy ready-made powder and prepare a thick paste by mixing the product with cold water. It is cheaper to peel and chop two medium potatoes. Wrap the root vegetable in gauze and apply to the wound for 5–10 minutes. Repeat every 2-3 hours. Rinse off any remaining starch with cool water and apply an antiseptic to damaged skin.

Folk remedies speed up recovery, but if the patient feels worse after self-treatment, you need to consult a doctor. Consultation with a traumatologist or therapist will be needed in case of elevated temperature, suppuration and weeping ulcers that do not want to heal. Elderly people and patients with diabetes should not experiment with traditional recipes.

Burn from boiling water: what not to do

Only a doctor can puncture blisters and cut away dead skin. The specialist manipulates with sterile instruments. If you pierce a bubble with an ordinary needle or scissors, an infection will enter the bloodstream and it will end in sepsis.

A bandage stuck to a wound should not be torn off abruptly, so as not to injure the burned tissue even more. The gauze is soaked with peroxide or furatsilin solution, and then carefully removed, trying not to tear off the crust that has formed on the surface of the wound.

Adults are prohibited from giving alcohol for sedation and internal disinfection. Do not stick a plaster on the burn, wash the wound with a solution of potassium permanganate, or burn it with brilliant green. If there is no antiseptic on hand that does not contain alcohol, apply a sterile bandage to the affected skin. Blisters and open wounds should not be treated with folk remedies.

Burns from boiling water are one of the most common household injuries. Both adults and children spill hot drinks on themselves, so your home first aid kit should always contain antiseptics and a sterile bandage for first aid. Only first and second degree burns can be treated independently. A patient with the third and fourth needs urgent hospitalization and qualified medical care.

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