How should you treat a second degree burn.....?

Question

i recently was at a beach party and accidently stepped on some hot embers from a fire that had been put out earlier, they didnt look hot but believe me they were... i had my sandal on when i did.. but now the inside of my foot has large blisters and covers about 3 inches between my toes and my heel.. only one of the blisters is open but it is all red around them.. can i put peroxide on them to make sure they stay clean.???.

i poured a great deal of cold(not ice cold) water on them before but i now i soak it and put some burn cream and gauze over it before i go out anywhere... am i doing the right thing?

Answer 1

cold water is the best first aid when you burn yourself - 20 minutes under the tap is ideal. NEVER ice or vinegar or milk or butter or green tea or mustard or toothpaste or sunscreen or semen or vaseline or tomatoes or vanilla extract or yogurt or sour cream or egg white or lavender oil or cocoa butter or salt or tea bags or potato or shaving cream or olive oil or baking soda or banana peel or petroleum jelly or whipped cream or avocado or bacon grease or corn starch or tumeric or lemon juice or curd- not until the skin is fully healed!

alcohol might help with the pain but it is a serious risk as it will dehydrate you - so don't drink any. ibuprofen or aspirin will help but larger burns are often accompanied by stomach ulcers, so tylenol/panadol is best for pain if you are gonna tough it out. drink plenty of water or energy drinks that don't have caffeine (gatorade)

i would advise that you cover the burnt area with white soft paraffin (white petroleum) or aqueous cream bp. (check the links below and see if you can find a local equivalent). wash the burn and reapply every 4-6 hours - cover with cling wrap if you wish to cover with clothes - this will stop your clothes getting covered with paraffin and maintains the burn.

cling wrap alone is ok if you can't get hold of any paraffin. it also acts as a protective artificial skin - helping retain moisture and protect from further damage and pain. cling wrap is cheap and clean off the roll. in Australia ambulances often use this when someone has been burnt. - please note that cling wrap isn't always practical, like on your face.

the paraffin imitates the natural oils, creating a seal stopping water leaving the body and reduces pain by protecting sensitised nerves. both of these factors improve healing - good stuff stays in, bad stays out - that is one job of healthy skin. aloe is good coz it remoisturises but that moisture can be quickly lost as the skin can't contain fluids. so put aloe on, and then the paraffin on over the top. if there is broken skin leave out the aloe - just paraffin.

http://www.doorone.com.au/xGS-Aqueous_Cream~NS-1~linkin_id-8009837

http://www.pharmacyonline.com.au/david-craig-paraffin-400g-p-1831.html

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=134100&previousURI=/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/search?page=1^Query=White+Petrolatum^ActiveCat=65

email if you still have questions - send photos [e-mail]

finally if you are really worried go to a hospital that has a burns unit or plastic surgeons. serious sunburn i.e. blisters (and all other burns) should be seen by a burns trained doctor or nurse.

Answer 2

Member since: July 07, 2007 Total points: 1,071 (Level 3) Points earned this week: --% Best answer dandelion S You can use honey, but let me tell you that the silver sulfiazine is the best. It almost heals that wound overnight, fights infection and in this situation use that cream. I'm an herbalist and this stuff is the best of the best. There is nothing out there that can bet it. My daughter was severely burned at 15 months of age and I thank God to this day for that cream. I use to be the president for the Lady's auxiliary for the local fire dept and that stuff is a miracle in a jar. It cools the wound instantly and generates new skin growth literally overnight. It's not sticky either. Spend that $, honey will take longer and it's messy. Even as a herbalist, this is one case that the cream is better to opt.

Answer 3

you are doing exactly the right thing. Keep watching it for signs of infection, redness or discharge, and do your best to keep the blisters intact. Continue to treat it as you have been until it is fully healed. The soaks are no longer necessary, but keep the cream and dressings on all the time, not just when you go out.