Can skin become burned without actually touching something hot?

Question

I was making something in the oven last night and halfway through cooking, it had to be turned over. So I spent about 3-4 minutes in front of an open oven at 475 degrees, turning it over. I never made contact with any part of the oven, but today, the arm that I was using to turn the fish sticks over with is really painful to the touch. It isn't red or blistered, it jsut hurts to touch. Is this even a burn? I have never heard of being burned with indirect heat. If it is, can it be treated like any other burn?

Answer 1

no such thing as wind burn. it is a radiant heat burn - probably quite superficial so the redness and pain should quickly fade.

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 egg yellow 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 turmeric OR lemon juice OR curd OR pickle juice OR soy sauce OR urine OR talcum powder OR mashed strawberries OR exfoliating scrub OR mayonnaise OR peroxide OR bleach OR deep heat OR ketchup OR red grapes OR hairspray- not until the skin is fully healed!

ibuprofen or aspirin will help but large 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 also ok if you can't get hold of any paraffin. it 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.

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

Think about it 475 degrees and the air blew in the direction of your skin - so yes you are burned - in a way - it hurt your top layer of skin - treat it with aloe or motrin -
and moisturizer that helps keep you hydrated (nothing with mineral oil)
We can also get wind burned - so sure this oven did the trick.

Answer 3

You do have a burn, similar to a sunburn, and for the same reasons. The red skin is a sign of a first degree burn. The soreness you feel today may lead to redness later.

The degree you describe may not be due to any real damage, but, just keep an eye on it.

Answer 4

Steam gives a much worse burn than boiling water -- even though both are at the same temperature so yes its very possible that you got burned without any actual physical signs. like previously stated treat it like a normal burn, with burn cream as well if you have it , and if not shea butter works as well.

Answer 5

Treat it like you would a sunburn. I know steam can burn people too.

Answer 6

Heat...burns.... Hot surface...Hot air..Steam..etc.... the Sun can burn you to...without you ever touching it... 475degrees...yep, that can sure burn ya...