They may need skin grafts to cover large wounds. antibiotics to prevent infection or I.V. He or she may recommend that you be transferred to a burn center if your burn covers more than 10 percent of your total body surface area, is very deep, is on the face, feet or groin, or meets other criteria established by the American Burn Association.Your doctor will check for other injuries and might order lab tests, X-rays or other diagnostic procedures.Most minor burns can be treated at home. They may need skin grafts to cover large wounds.
However, all burns must be kept clean and adequate dressing should be applied based on severity of wounds. Lastly, some burns can be mentally traumatic and/or physically disfiguring and lead to psychological pain that must be addressed, as well.Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/31/2017. You may find comfort in sharing your experience and struggles and meeting people who face similar challenges. It is also important to reassess wounds for signs of infection and other long term issues, such as First-degree burns might be treated with skin care products such as aloe vera cream or an antibiotic ointment. Medical Management Of Burns. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
However, all burns must be kept clean and adequate dressing should be applied based on severity of wounds. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.
They usually heal within a couple of weeks.For serious burns, after appropriate first aid and wound assessment, your treatment may involve medications, wound dressings, therapy and surgery. In addition, there is pain involved in the treatment of burns as the wounds must be cleansed and the dressings changed. More serious burns require immediate emergency medical care to prevent complications and death. Call for Additional Assistance Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. And occupational therapy may help if you have difficulty doing your normal daily activities.You may need one or more of the following procedures:Whether your burn was minor or serious, use sunscreen and moisturizer regularly once the wound is healed.Coping with a serious burn injury can be a challenge, especially if it covers large areas of your body or is in places readily seen by other people, such as your face or hands. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. • Apply split thickness skin grafts to full-thickness burns after wound excision or the appearance of healthy granulation tissue. The treatment of a burn depends on the type of burn. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Burn Management (continued) Healing phase • The depth of the burn and the surface involved influence the duration of the healing phase.
Burn levels. © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). They usually heal within a couple of weeks.For serious burns, after appropriate first aid and wound assessment, your treatment may involve medications, wound dressings, therapy and surgery. Potential scarring, reduced mobility and possible surgeries add to the burden.Consider joining a support group of other people who have had serious burns and know what you're going through. Pictures of burns. Other types of exercises can improve muscle strength and coordination. The treatment of a burn depends on the type of burn. Without infection, superficial burns heal rapidly. Studies have concluded that the management of burn pain can be inadequate, and such studies have advocated more aggressive treatments for pain resulting from burns. Pain management is very important as inadequate control can interfere with wound care. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. The goals of treatment are to control pain, remove dead tissue, prevent infection, reduce scarring risk and regain function.People with severe burns may require treatment at specialized burn centers. Ask your doctor for information on support groups in your area or online.Seek emergency medical care for burns that are deep or involve your hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, a major joint or a large area of the body. These can help stretch the skin so that the joints can remain flexible.