Here Is How To Make A Burn Heal Faster

By Donna King


If you have ever gotten scalded, there is no doubt the experience was painful. It is normal to want burnt skin to heal in record time when you are the victim. However, some people often have to endure lengthy recovery periods, mostly because of failure to care for their burns properly. Here are a few insights on how to make a burn heal faster.

Your first reaction after sustaining a burn should be to establish its severity. This will help you determine whether to go to a hospital or tend to it at home. Burns are usually classified as being in the first, second or third degree. It is imperative that you know how to tell the difference between these three so as to know the best course of action.

First degree burns are minor and only redden the skin. They do not leave permanent scars and can fully heal in no more than 10 days. Those in the second degree usually cause blistering and reddening of the skin. They are always painful and must be attended to immediately by medical professionals so as to prevent infection. A third degree burn is one that penetrates the three layers of the skin. It is medically classified as an emergency.

The first thing to do to ease the pain is to douse the affected skin with cool water. Apart from providing much needed pain relief, cool water limits the injury done to the skin. It is advisable to submerge the burnt area in cool water for over 20 minutes. Ice packs should never be used for this purpose. They are harsh to the skin and only compound the affliction.

A cloth that is cool and clean should be used to cover the wound after this. It will provide appropriate conditions for quick healing. In addition to this, it will safeguard the wound from germs and infections. Remove the cloth intermittently after a few minutes to keep it from sticking to your skin. Also ensure it is not wet before you place it.

You may have to go to the hospital if the burn affects certain areas of the body. Areas such as the groin, hands, feet, buttocks, joints and face are generally classified as sensitive. In this case, it does not matter how severe the condition is.

One of the conditions for a faster healing process is monitoring your recovery and staying in touch with your doctor. You should always inform your doctor if you start getting a fever or if the wound starts releasing a foul odor. A pungent smell is always a sign of an infection. A healing wound is supposed to gradually reduce in size. Therefore, you should be concerned if the area swells further, drains a significant amount of liquid and gets redder.

Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics to be used together with painkillers and lotions. Since wounds can easily get infected, antibiotics are essential for keeping them safe. Ensure you finish your prescribed medication for it to be effective. Healing time can increase drastically in case you miss your doses.




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