
You may need morphine and anti-anxiety medications - particularly for dressing changes. You may need intravenous (IV) fluids to prevent dehydration and organ failure. Your care team may use techniques such as ultrasound mist therapy to clean and stimulate the wound tissue. Medical treatmentĪfter you have received first aid for a major burn, your medical care may include medications and products that are intended to encourage healing. And they may need emotional support and months of follow-up care, such as physical therapy.
#Treating a rope burn skin
They may need skin grafts to cover large wounds. People with severe burns may require treatment at specialized burn centers. The goals of treatment are to control pain, remove dead tissue, prevent infection, reduce scarring risk and regain function. They usually heal within a couple of weeks.įor serious burns, after appropriate first aid and wound assessment, your treatment may involve medications, wound dressings, therapy and surgery. Move a burned leg or arm normally to keep the burned skin from healing too tightly, which can limit movement.Most minor burns can be treated at home. If the burn is on a leg or an arm, keep the limb raised as much as possible for the first 24 to 48 hours to decrease swelling. Do not use aspirin, because it can make bleeding in the burned area worse. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve), as needed. Be sure to follow the instructions included in the package. There are many nonprescription burn dressings available. (Some dressings shouldn't be changed every day.) Until the burn heals, wash the burn every day with a mild soap and water, unless your doctor says otherwise. If a bandage is stuck to a burn, soak it in warm water to make the bandage easier to remove. Apply a clean bandage whenever it gets wet or soiled.Do not tape a bandage so that it circles a hand, arm, or leg.Wrap the burn loosely to avoid putting pressure on the burned skin.Use gauze or tape to keep the dressing in place.Or you may want to use a product where the gauze dressing pad comes already coated with petroleum jelly or a similar ointment to keep the burn moist as it heals.So if you're using a topical antibiotic, you may want to switch to petroleum jelly or another type of ointment or cream after a week. Using antibiotic cream or ointment for longer than a week may cause a rash.Apply the antibiotic cream or ointment to a nonstick dressing, and then place the dressing (ointment-side down) on the burn. You may want to use petroleum jelly or an antibiotic cream or ointment, like bacitracin or triple antibiotic ointment.Do not put pain-relief skin sprays on burns, because this traps the heat inside the burn.Pat the area dry with a clean cloth or gauze.

Some of the burned skin might come off with washing. Gently wash the burn area every day with a mild soap and water.

Do not touch the burn with your hands or anything dirty, because open blisters can easily be infected. Wash your hands before cleaning a burn.Take off any jewelry, rings, or clothing that could be in the way or that would become too tight if the skin swells.Do not use ice or ice water, which can cause tissue damage.Apply cool compresses to burns on the face or body.Place arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, or toes in a basin of cool water.The cool water lowers the skin temperature and stops the burn from becoming more serious. Rinsing will usually stop the pain in 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse burned skin with cool water until the pain stops.For many second-degree burns, home treatment is all that is needed for healing and to prevent other problems.
