I have a deep second degree burn?

Question

I sat on a curling iron about 4 days ago, I didnt think it was that bad so started treating it at home. It didnt look so good this is the way it looked almost the size of half of my palm. Its very pinkish like my skin had been burnt off. Theres a little bit of blood kind of seeping out from under the flesh. I was concerned after 2 days so i went to the er. They said it is a deep second degree. They gave me some anti bacteria cream and some guaze to put on it. And told me to see a doctor in a couple days for a follow up. I wont see a doctor till 3 more days what I''m wondering is whether to keep applying the cream on it. Since i feel like all the cream is doing is fighting bacteria but not helping it heal. Should i apply neosporin? Would that help since this is a really deep burn i dont think aloe jell is going to help since I've tried that also. Any suggestions of advice before i see a doctor?

Answer 1

Yes, you need to continue to apply the antibacterial burn cream and cover it with the guaze. Do not put other things on the burned area. You wouldn't see significant healing just yet, at least none you would recognize at this point. You have seepage from the open wound because you have destroyed skin. Skin cells are full of fluid, and when you burn yourself, it's a molecular level boiling that goes on inside them. Obviously, the cells weren't meant to boil and they burst. The fluid collects in the area, and leaks out when the skin sloughs off. The dead skin will slough off, leaving the new pinkish looking skin underneath. The burn will heal from the edges inwards, and from the bottom up. In the meantime it is very suceptible to infection, you have a gap in your birthday suit that is going to take some time to heal. Change your dressing at least once, if not twice each day. If you can, go commando as much as possible. You do not want to trap moisture and heat in the area, those are part of the ingredients for infection. Take showers and not baths, and don't wear pants unless you have to. I don't know what skin color you have, but if you are darker complexion, the skin may stay pink-white, depending on exactly how deeply the skin burned, you may have damaged the melanin containing layer. If that is so, you will lose the pigmentation in the area permanently. A burn can take weeks to heal completely, and will need proper care until it completely heals to prevent infection and limit scar tissue. In the meantime you would do well to take a vitamin/mineral supplement, eat a very nutritious diet, and be careful to drink plenty of fluids. Proper diet will ensure you have all that's needed to do the repairs, and keeping it covered and using the ointment will prevent infection while it heals. Let your body do what it does best, and don't try things to "help". When it finally does heal and dry, you will want to invest in some Mederma to put on the scar. That will help minimize the amount of scarring and improve the final look immensely. Otherwise, there is nothing else you can or should do.

Answer 2

ok nothing you put on a wound will heal it. thats not what any dressing is designed to do. ALL medical (or otherwise) dressings simply allow the skin to heal itself. the goal of dressings is to remove barriers to healing one major one being infection! so keep using the stuff.

aloe won't help as it is a moisturiser.

cold water is the best/only first aid when you burn yourself - 20 minutes under the tap and no less. 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 OR pickle juice OR soy sauce OR urine OR talcum powder OR mashed strawberries OR exfoliating scrub OR mayonnaise- 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 3

Use the cream! If it gets infected it can progress to a third degree burn, with permanent scarring! Neosporin is a different formula, so won't work the same way.
Do what they said until you see the doctor.