It’s summertime once again, and that means getting out with family and friends for outings, vacations, parties, cookouts, and sports. Everyone is focusing on having a good time, but with all of these activities comes a higher possibility of burns. These injuries can come from a cookout grill, fireworks, sunburn, or a campfire. This article will go over the types of burns and the severity of them, as well as treatment and prevention. We’ll also touch on when to look for a personal injury lawyer.
Levels of Burns
When you get a burn, it may need medical attention depending on the severity. We’ll go over the different levels of burn severity, as well as when to seek medical treatment.
- First Degree Burn: A first-degree burn is the most common type of summer burn. A first-degree burn only affects the outer layer of skin, like a sunburn. These burns result in reddening and a mild throb in the outer layer or skin.
- Second Degree Burn: A second-degree burn affects the lower layer of skin as well as the surface, the epidermis, and the dermis. This injury results in redness, pain, and swelling in the area. It may also look shiny, and could cause blistering.
- Third Degree Burn: A third-degree burn and affects the fatty layer below the dermis. It has white or blackened, charred skin and numbness.
- Fourth Degree Burn: This burn is the most severe and damages the muscles and bones. It results in blackened skin with massive nerve ending damage.
What Causes Burns?
There are several causes of burns and severity of the burns. Dry heat like fire, wet heat like steam, radiation, friction, the sun, electricity, heated objects, and chemicals can all cause burns. A thermal burn is the most common type of burn, and they happen when heated objects, flames, liquids, metals, or steam comes into contact with your skin.
While many burns occur as the result of the victim’s negligence, there are certain situations where another party might be liable. These could include defective products such as cooking utensils or grills, another party failing to practice fire safety near campsites, or even another individual setting off a firework.
If a burn injury occurs because of someone’s negligence or wrongdoing, it may be in your best interest to look into a personal injury lawyer to help get compensation for your medical bills, missed work or school, and treatments.
Burn Symptoms
The symptoms of a burn depend largely on the level of burn you experience. Some typical symptoms of burns include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Blisters
- Pain
- Peeling Skin
- Clammy Skin
- White or Charred Skin
- Hair loss
Almost all burns you receive will have redness, swelling, and pain. The more severe burns will have the other symptoms listed above.
Treatment of Burns
Again, the burn treatment depends on the severity of the burn. First-degree burns are usually treated with topical ointments like Aloe Vera, and over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol. Second-degree burns are treated with antibiotic ointment or creams you get from your doctor. Third and fourth-degree burns are treated by skin grafting and IV antibiotics and fluids to prevent shock and infection.
You should visit a doctor if you believe your burn is worse than a first-degree. Severe burns can cause permanent damage to the skin, including scarring and hair loss. When hair loss occurs, it’s possible to repair the damage with a hair transplant surgeon Manhattan trusts using treatments such as plasma rich therapy (PRP therapy) and hair transplant procedures. These hair loss treatments can be performed on any area where permanent hair loss has occurred, including the scalp and eyebrows. Other cosmetic solutions may be addressed by a cosmetic surgeon to repair scarring of the skin.
It’s always important to have safety precautions in place when you’re near open flames this summer — but if a burn injury occurs, know that you have legal and medical options available.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from the offices of Dr. Robin Unger for their insight into hair treatments after burn injuries.