Burn pain is a very unpleasant thing. A moment of carelessness is often all it takes to burn the skin. When it gets to that point, there are numerous ways to relieve the burn pain, but even immediately after the burn, there are some things that can be done to reduce the extent of the burn.
What is burn pain?
Burn pain occurs when the skin has had contact with an opponent that is too hot or even a liquid. Burn pain occurs when the skin has had contact with an opponent that is too hot or also a liquid. Stove tops, irons, cooking pots, pasta water – they are among the most common triggers for burns, which basically happen very often in the household. Immediately upon contact with the hot matter, a pain is felt that lasts even when the heat source no longer touches the skin. This is the burn pain. At the affected area, there is usually a reddening of the skin quite quickly, and later, depending on the severity of the burn, there may also be blistering. These blisters are then filled with wound fluid. Cooling always provides good relief from burn pain. It can be done by means of cold water or ice packs and should be applied as soon as possible after contact.
Causes
Burn pain occurs as a result of scalds or burns. These are skin damage caused by excessive heat on the skin. However, chemical substances can also cause burn pain through chemical burns, as can electrical injuries (electrocution). Since our skin is a poor conductor of heat, it is enough for the heat source to be present for a very short time and a burn to occur. From an exposure of about 50 to 60 degrees Celsius, our skin already bears a burn damage and it comes to burn pain. The severity of the burn depends on the duration and intensity of the heat exposure. Therefore, there are very harmless burns to those that can assume life-threatening proportions. To classify burns, there are different degrees of burns.
Diseases with this symptom
- Burn
Diagnosis and course
Diagnosis of burns and burn pain is very simple in most cases. This is because the affected person can usually describe exactly what has occurred, namely contact with a hot source. Now it is important that the doctor classifies what degree of burn is present in the presenting patient. For this, the depth of the burn is crucial. In I degree burns, only the uppermost layers of the skin are affected. In this case, there is only redness and burn pain, there is no blistering. Such a burn does not require special treatment, it usually heals completely after a few days. If burns of II. Grade, the dermis is also affected. However, this degree of burn is subdivided again, depending on how far the dermis is affected. In both cases, there is redness, blistering and, of course, burn pain. The worst case are burns of the III. and IV. Degree represent. In the former, all skin layers are destroyed by the burn, and the affected area may be charred. In the IV degree of burns, one usually already speaks of charring. Here, not only the skin is affected, but also muscles, tendons and also bones. In these cases, amputation can often no longer be avoided.
Complications
Burn pain rarely has complications that greatly affect the patient’s health. In most cases, burn pain can be treated relatively well and does not lead to further health problems. A scar after a burn can be relatively painful and slow to recede. It is also not uncommon for scars after burns to remain on the skin forever and not disappear completely. If severe burn pain occurs, it is essential to see a doctor. This can assess the severity of the burn and treat the skin properly. Consequential damage and scars can be avoided. Surgical interventions usually do not take place, treatment is with creams, ointments and painkillers.If the burn pain occurs after a very serious accident, amputations may also occur. Patients should never open burn blisters themselves. If the blister must be opened, this should only be done by a doctor. Germs and pathogens could otherwise cause inflammation here and lead to more severe burn pain. Burn pain usually disappears after several days or weeks depending on the severity of the burn. After a burn, the skin must be treated immediately. The sooner the treatment takes place, the better consequential damage can be avoided.
When should you go to the doctor?
In the case of burn pain, it is not necessary to see a doctor in every case. In most cases, the burns are mild and can be treated relatively well with self-help remedies. There are no particular complications and the pain usually disappears after a few days. A visit to the doctor is necessary in case of burn pain, if the pain is very severe and does not disappear on its own. Also, in case of burn blisters and in case of severe burns, a doctor must be consulted in any case. This should usually be done from a burn of the second degree. Frequently, burn blisters also occur, which should also be examined by a doctor. Under no circumstances should the patient open the burn blisters themselves, as this can lead to inflammation and infection. If the lower layers of the skin are also affected by the burn pain, the patient must go directly to the hospital. Mild burns can also be treated relatively well with the help of remedies from the pharmacy.
Treatment and therapy
The therapy of burn pain depends mainly on the degree of burn. Thereby, I. degree burns are the easiest to treat. Cooling ointments and gels are applied to relieve the burn pain, and the affected area can also be treated with ice packs or cooling compresses. If the burn pain is caused by scald II. If the burn pain is caused by scalding of the second degree, the wound is usually not left open, but covered with gauze compresses and bandaged. Burn ointments may also be applied in this case to relieve the burn pain. In some cases, it may be necessary to open the burn blisters. Absolute sterility must be ensured here so that no pathogens can penetrate the wound and cause infections. In any case, the dressing must be changed regularly. Burns of the III. and IV. Grade III and IV burns require hospitalization in any case, because the first priority is to avoid infections. In addition, these degrees of burns always require appropriate surgical measures. This includes in any case the removal of the destroyed tissue. In some cases, very strong painkillers are administered to relieve the pain of the burn. In very severe cases, the patient may even be placed in an artificial coma, as the pain of the burn would otherwise be unbearable. These extreme cases should be treated in any case in a special clinic to obtain the best chances of recovery.
Outlook and prognosis
In most cases, only simple and mild burns occur in people. These do not require special medical treatment and will heal on their own. In some cases, they can leave scars and wounds. The consequences of a burn thus always depend on the part of the body affected and the type of burn. If there is severe pain from the burn, a doctor must be consulted. He or she can classify the burn according to its degree and initiate the appropriate measures. Mild burns result in reddened and irritated skin. In severe burns, bars may form in addition to the pain of the burn. In severe cases, bleeding also occurs and the skin layers are detached. Medical treatment is not necessary in all cases. The burn pain can be relieved with the help of cooling creams. The affected areas on the skin can be covered with a plaster or bandage to prevent inflammation from forming there. Usually, the burns heal in a few days and the burn pain also disappears.
Prevention
To prevent burn pain, the main thing is to avoid burns and scalds.Careful handling of hot objects or liquids is therefore essential. Should a burn nevertheless occur, it is important to react immediately. The faster initial treatment takes place, the better the chances of healing and the less pain from the burn.
What you can do yourself
For burn pain, various home remedies and measures promise relief. First, it is important to cool the burn. The affected area should be held under running cold water as soon as possible and then cooled with a damp cloth. After fifteen minutes at the latest, cooling should be discontinued to avoid permanent tissue damage. Instead, the affected area can be treated with a burn ointment or a pain-relieving gel from the pharmacy and then covered to keep it germ-free. In the case of a scald, cold air and the removal of soaked clothing will help most. Burn pain in the mouth can be relieved by honey, curd or sucking ice cubes. Sauerkraut juice and onion soothe the damaged skin and relieve acute discomfort after a burn. For minor burns, antiseptic home remedies such as vinegar, echinacea and garlic are alternative options. In addition, homeopathic remedies such as arnica or Spanish fly can be used. For major burns, pain should always be treated under medical supervision. Until the emergency doctor arrives, rest and light cooling help against the pain. Further self-measures should generally be refrained from in the case of extensive burns.
