How long do you soak a burn?

What Causes Burns?

Burns are caused by exposure to heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or radiation. The most common causes of burns are:

• Heat from hot liquids, steam, fire, or contact with hot objects like stoves or irons
• Chemicals like strong acids or bases
• Electrical burns from electrical current passing through the body
• Sunburn from overexposure to UV rays
• Radiation burns from radioactive materials or radiation therapy treatments

Burns damage the skin and underlying tissues. The level of tissue damage depends on the temperature and duration of exposure.

Types of Burns

Burns are classified by severity into three categories:

First Degree Burns

First degree or superficial burns only affect the outer layer of skin (epidermis). The burn site is red, painful, and dry without blisters. Mild sunburn is an example.

Second Degree Burns

Second degree or partial thickness burns extend deeper into the dermis layer of skin. They cause pain, redness, swelling, and blisters.

Third Degree Burns

Third degree or full thickness burns destroy both epidermis and dermis layers of skin. They may also damage fat, muscle, and bone tissues. The burn site appears white or charred. There is often no pain at first because nerve endings are damaged.

Factors that Determine Burn Severity

The severity of a burn depends on:

• Heat source temperature – Higher temperatures cause more severe burns.
• Length of exposure – Longer exposure increases burn depth.
• Thickness of skin – Thinner skin on the face, hands, buttocks, and genitals is more easily burned.
• Skin moisture – Wet skin gets burned more readily.
• Age – Children and older adults have thinner skin and are more susceptible to deep burns.

In general, burns involving less than 10% of the body surface area in adults or less than 5% in children are considered mild. Moderate burns affect 10-20% of the body surface in adults or 5-10% in children. Severe or major burns cover more than 20% of the body surface in adults or 10% in children.

First Aid Treatment for Burns

Stop the burning process as soon as possible by removing the heat source. For chemical burns, flush the area with cool running water for at least 20 minutes to stop ongoing chemical damage.

Then follow these first aid steps:

1. Cool the burn with cool but not icy cold running water for at least 10 minutes. Do not apply ice.
2. Cover the burn loosely with a sterile non-stick bandage or clean cloth.
3. Remove jewelry, tight clothing, belts etc. near the burned area before swelling begins.
4. Give analgesics for pain relief if the victim is alert and able to swallow.
5. Prevent infection by applying an antibiotic ointment if blistering occurs.
6. See a doctor for severe burns, burns with charring, burns over large surface areas or circular burns, full thickness burns, burns on face, hands, feet, groin, buttocks, or major joints, chemical burns, electrical burns including lightning strikes, and burns in children or the elderly.

Do NOT apply butter, grease, oil, ice, creams, aloe vera gels, toothpaste, or any other home remedies to the burned skin. Do NOT break open blisters or remove burned skin or clothing stuck to the wounds. This can increase the risk of infection.

Professional Medical Treatment

Severe burns require emergency medical care to prevent complications like dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and infections.

Treatment involves:

• Fluid replacement intravenously to stabilize electrolyte balance.
• Analgesics for pain relief.
• Antibiotics to prevent or treat wound infections.
• Tetanus immunization if needed.
• Surgical debridement to remove dead tissue.
• Skin grafting for deep partial and full thickness burns.
• Physical therapy to prevent scarring contractures.

With proper first aid and medical care, most burns can heal without significant scarring.

How Long Should You Soak a Burn?

For mild first and second degree burns, the recommended first aid is to hold the burned area under cool running water for about 10-20 minutes. Cool water helps stop the burning process, ease pain, and prevent the burn from becoming deeper.

Do not use ice water, ice cubes or ice packs on the burn. Icing can damage tissue and increase risk of frostbite.

After cooling, lightly cover the burn with a sterile non-stick dressing and seek medical help if needed. Keeping the burn moist and covered creates a humid environment that promotes healing and reduces scarring.

For severe burns, prolonged cooling may lead to hypothermia. In these cases, first aid is focused on stabilization until emergency medical treatment can begin.

Soaking Chemical Burns

For chemical burns, irrigation with copious amounts of running water is recommended for 20 minutes or longer to wash away all traces of the chemical and stop further burning. Remove contaminated clothing while flushing the area. Then cover loosely with a sterile dressing and seek immediate medical attention.

Home Care After Treatment

After emergency treatment and the burn begins healing, follow these wound care tips at home:

• Keep the wound moist by applying ointment and covering with a non-stick dressing. Change dressings daily.
• Take prescribed antibiotics and pain medications.
• Elevate the burned limbs to reduce swelling.
• Do gentle range-of-motion exercises to prevent joint stiffness.
• Avoid breaking blisters or removing loose skin which can increase chances of infection.
• Avoid sun exposure while healing as it can cause permanent pigmentation changes.

Full thickness and deep dermal burns often require grafting. Care of skin grafts involves keeping them hydrated and preventing shearing on the grafted skin. Follow all wound care instructions from your doctor.

Preventing Recurrent Burns

To lower your risk of repeat burns:

• Set your water heater to a maximum of 120 Fahrenheit to avoid scalds.
• Install smoke detectors around the house.
• Keep children away from hot surfaces like stoves, irons, and heaters.
• Ensure electrical cords and outlets are in good condition.
• Wear protective gear when handling hazardous materials.
• Follow safety precautions when operating equipment that can cause burns.
• Avoid direct sun exposure when outdoors and use sunscreen.

When to See a Doctor

Consult a doctor for:

• All chemical, electrical, and radiation burns.
• Burns occurring with an explosion or in an enclosed space indicative of possible inhalation injury.
• Circular deep burns indicative of immersion scalds.
• Full thickness burns.
• Large surface area burns.
• Deep burns on the hands, feet, face, joints, genitals or buttocks.
• Burns in infants, children, pregnant women, older adults or people with chronic medical conditions.
• Burns causing severe pain, swelling, or scarring.
• Burns showing signs of infection like oozing, foul odor, increasing pain, fever or redness.
• Burns that do not heal within 2-3 weeks.

Conclusion

For mild to moderate heat burns, soak the area in cool running water for about 10-20 minutes to minimize further tissue damage. Severe burns require emergency medical care to prevent complications. Seek immediate medical help for chemical, electrical, radiation or extensive burns. With proper first aid and wound care, most minor burns can heal on their own without significant scarring. However deeper and more severe burns often need grafting and specialty care to optimize healing and prevent recurrent burns.