1st Degree Burns RecoveryRecovering from burns requires proper treatment and even minor 1st degree burns recovery takes a bit of effort to do well. It's the least serious sort of burn, and doesn't involve much more than reddening of the skin, and are most commonly associated with touching something too hot or getting a moderate sunburn. 1st degree scalds irritate nerve endings, as opposed to 2nd degree burn , which have blistering, and 3rd degree burns , which have actual charring. Fortunately, moderate burns tend to heal quickly, because they're not terribly deep or damaging, and a 1st degree burn will often heal itself in a couple of days for people with healthy immune systems. Things to watch out for on 1st degree scalds are having the skin dry out and peel off; this can slow own the rate of recovery, an can (in extreme cases) result in minor scarring or increasing the risk of infection. There will usually be some swelling around the area of the burn, which may lead to other issues, like favoring the non-burned area over the burnt one, or problems wearing constricting clothing. The symptoms of 1st degree scalds start with slight redness and discoloration (sometimes it's more a pinkish hue) followed by swelling and irritation. The swelling and redness come both from irritation on the blood rich second layer of the skin, and from the body trying to rush nutrients and platelets to repair the damage done. The usual treatment for 1st degree scalds are to run cool running water over it immediately after getting it. This keeps the burn from getting worse. Other topical remedies include using aloe vera ointments, which also moisturize the skin and are a slight painkiller. More persistent pain can be treated with aspirin or ibuprofen if the burn victim can handle them (most can). It's also important to hydrate the victim internally, especially if the 1st degree burn is the result of too much sunlight rather than picking up something hot. Long before you get a sunburn, you've probably lost a lot of water, and dehydration makes everything else more complex. After the burn has been immediately treated, the usual next step is to cover it up; put a bit of ointment on it (aloe vera or otherwise) and wrap it in gauze. This is meant to keep the skin there from running into infectious agents, and to keep dirt out of the burn. It's not as essential as it is with a 2nd degree burn or a 3rd degree burn, which are avenues for infection. (2nd degree burns may need a doctor to look at them, 3rd degree burns definitely need a medical professional's input.) Just remember - pull your hand away, run water (or something cool) over it, put something on it to remove the sting and cover it up, and your 1st degree burn will be treated without much hassle on your part. Top Go from this 1st Degree Burns Recovery's page to the Burns and Sunburn's page. Sunburn Magazine's Home |
