Chemical skin burn: home treatment

When working with corrosive substances such as acid, alkali or lime, there is always the possibility of shedding or spilling the substance and getting a chemical burn of the skin. The degree of damage received will depend directly on the speed of reaction and the ability to provide first aid to one's neighbor. What is necessary to do if the skin gets aggressive means?

First aid

The first step in helping the victim is to eliminate the burning effect. If something flows, drips or drips, the injured person must be moved away from the affected area, observing his own safety. Then the help turns out to be in a certain sequence:

• The victim is removed clothing and accessories, stained with chemicals.
• The skin in the lesion is washed with water for about 20 minutes. If the help is too late, then the rinsing lasts longer (up to 40 minutes).
• Dry and powder chemicals are first shaken off and only then washed.
• With an acid burn neutralize the substance by washing with a soda solution. And with alkaline damage washed with a weak solution of acid (vinegar).
• Place the lesion with lime treated with a solution of sugar, the concentration of which should not exceed 20%. Running water can not be washed away, otherwise the chemical burn of the skin will become stronger.
• Damaged area is protected with a sterile tissue or bandage.

Then the victim is taken to the hospital. This can be done by yourself or by calling an ambulance.

What substances are most often burned

Chemical burns of the skin are most often due to negligence. People do not observe safety techniques when working with various acids, alkalis, gasoline, kerosene, phosphorus, bitumen and other dangerous substances. Among acid burns, sulfur, nitric and hydrofluoric acids are leading .

Kerosene and gasoline are fired when working in the garage or when trying to remove the stain from paint, resin or wax. Bitumen can get on the skin during construction or repair work. The substance has a high temperature and adheres tightly to the tissue or skin. This complicates the chemical burn with thermal damage.

Determining the degree of injury

Treatment of burns deals with a section of medicine called "kbbustiologiya." Specialists in this field argue that if the first aid was performed accurately, the degree of damage is reduced by one, and if it is wrong, the degree of burn is increased.

Degrees of defeat are distinguished as follows:

• Chemical burn of the skin of the I degree is a swollen and reddened skin area, painful to the touch.
• For the ІІ degree, the appearance of blisters (vesicles) containing a clear liquid is characteristic. The affected skin is edematous, they are painful to the touch.
• At the third degree, the burn penetrates into the skin up to the subcutaneous tissue. Partial tissue necrosis occurs , the reaction is broken, as the nerve endings are melted.
• At the fourth degree of chemical burn, deep layers are destroyed. The burn affects not only the skin, but also the muscles, ligaments, bones, internal organs.

To understand on the spot, how much a person has suffered from chemical exposure, maybe not always. The exact extent of the problem is clarified only after 1-2 weeks, when there is a suppuration of the scabby place. In addition, the burn area is important.

Medical definition of the area

Physicians determine the size of the burn in several ways. The first is called the "rule of nine". In this case, the skin surface of the adult patient is divided into conditional 11 sites, each of which is considered as 9% of the surface:

• Chemical burn of the skin of the face, head and neck - 9%;
• Defeat of the upper limbs - 9% * 2;
• Defeat of the lower extremities - 18% * 2, that is, each leg 2 times 9% each;
• Skin of the front side of the body - 18%;
• The skin of the back of the body is 18%.

Remains 1 percent, which conditionally falls on the skin of the perineum.

The second way

The second method is based on the statement that the area of the palm of an adult is about 1% of the skin surface. With limited effects of the palm, the area of the lesion is measured, with a large burn - the size of uninjured areas of the skin. With deep chemical lesions, the victim develops a burn disease. The course of the disease directly depends on the area and depth of impact.

In what cases is self-management possible?

If a chemical skin burn has occurred, treatment at home is permissible only with the 1st degree of injury. But even so, provided that the first aid was provided correctly and the consequences of the defeat are minimal. If an extensive burn of I degree is obtained, then it is necessary to consult a doctor.

With burns of the 2nd degree, independent treatment can be attempted only if the area of the lesion is small. If the blister is more than 5 cm, then you can not postpone visiting a doctor. After contacting a burn center with lesions of the 1st or 2nd degree, hospitalization is not necessarily followed.

Chemical burn III and IV degree may require surgical intervention, as self-restoration of tissues is slowed or does not occur at all. Do not take risks if a person has a severe chemical skin burn. Treatment at home still does not work. It follows that with deep burns an address to a doctor is a matter of life and death for the victim.

Methods of treatment

In the hospital, doctors assess the condition of the victim and only then decide what to treat the chemical burn of the skin. The affected area is additionally washed, treated with antiseptics. The patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics and pain medications. With the help of droppers restore the body's water balance. Depending on the extent and area of the lesion, skin transplants are performed from intact parts of the body.

Physicians pursue two goals:

• To achieve tissue regeneration.
• Do not allow infection of affected areas or minimize the negative impact on the body.

Recovery after severe chemical burns occurs slowly. Even after tissue healing, doctors observe their patients for years to help them recover as much as possible.

How to treat a chemical burn at home

Chemical burns І and ІІ degrees (up to 5 cm) can be treated at home. But even with small foci localized in the face, hands, feet or perineum, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

If at home treatment there were signs of secondary infection of the wound, that is, the edges became red and swollen, purulent discharge appeared, the body temperature rose and pain intensified, then the treatment does not help and professional help is needed.

At home treatment use ointment from chemical burns of a skin on gel or water basis. These include the following drugs:

• "Panthenol";
• "Levomekol";
• "Ointment Vishnevsky" ;
• "Rescuer";
• "Dermazin";
• "Solcoseryl";
• "Bepanten" and much more.

It is acceptable to use sprays containing panthenol. The treatment uses sterile bandages, napkins and gloves. The hands must be treated with special means so as not to infect the infection.

Common Mistakes

Despite the advice of grandmothers and neighbors who are well-known experts in all areas, remember that many actions cause notable harm:

• Never open blisters on burns at home, this opens the way for infection.
• Do not lubricate affected areas with oil, protein, sour cream or alcohol.
• Do not wash the chemical burn with urine, otherwise infection is guaranteed.
• Do not touch the wound surface with hands, but only with sterile swabs or a napkin.
• Do not apply medicinal plants to the burn.
• Do not use cotton wool and band-aid when dressing.

The best option for home treatment - first get a specialist consultation and determine the health risks.