Acne Treatments Guide - Articles

Our skin controls the amount of heat our bodies retain or release, holds in fluids, and protects us from infection. If it is burned, our skin loses these abilities.

While burns on hands or fingers are usually not dangerous, they will cause swelling. In fact, burns of the face and neck can sometimes swell enough to lead to difficulty breathing and restrict blood flow. If you feel symptoms such as shortness of breath or a numbing sensation in your extremities, seek medical assistance at once.

How to Deal with Chemical Burns

Many chemical burns occur accidentally through misuse of products such as those for hair, skin, and nail care or commonly used cleaning products. With minor chemical burns you can take the following steps to treat them:

* Remove the products by flushing them off the skin surface with cool, running water for at least twenty minutes. If the burning product is a powder-like substance, brush it off the skin before flushing. . *Remove clothing that has been contaminated by the product.

*Put a cool, wet cloth to ease pain and wrap the burned area loosely with a dry, sterile gauze.

*Rewash the burned area for several more minutes if the burning sensation increases after the initial washing.

In the case of severe burns or burns accompanied by symptoms such as shock, fainting, paleness or shallow breathing, you must seek a doctorimmediately. Also seek out medical attention if the burn has caused a second degree burn or covers an area more than three inches in diameter, if the burn has occurred on the eye, hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or over a major joint or if over-the-counter drugs cannot control the pain.

How to Deal with Electrical Burns

Electrical burns are provoked by an external electrical shock. They may seem minor at first, but the damage can extend deep into the body's tissues. Strong electrical currents can cause internal damage, such as arrhythmias or heart attacks.

You should always call for help at once when a person has suffered a chemical burn. While you are waiting for help to arrive, follow the steps detailed below.

Check the person and his/her surroundings first and then try to help. The person may still be in contact with the power source. Next, turn off the source of electricity if possible or move it away from the injured person using a non conducting object.

Then, check for breathing and a pulse. Administer CPR if the victim shows no signs of breathing or a pulse. Finally prevent shock by keeping their legs elevated and protect the damaged area with a sterile gauze bandage, if available. Avoid using a towel or blanket to cover the wound because loose filament could get stuck to the burned area.

Scar Treatment for Burns

Both types of burns discussed in this article will generally leave scars. There are some treatment options in these cases ranging from creams to surgery.

Since scars become less elastic the do not allow for the normal range of motion. Lotions can help moisturized the scarred tissue and help with the dissolution of old scars. In some cases, scar removal through surgical procedures is necessary.