Burns on the hand
Burns in children occur more frequently in the extremities, with particularly frequent involvement of the hands. Children are very curious and want to discover and experience a lot. In everyday life, burns preferably occur on the hands when touching a hot stove top or a hot pot, or when pouring hot water over them.
Burns on the hand, as well as on other parts of the body, are divided into 3 degrees of severity.In first-degree burns, caused by a brief exposure to heat, such as when touching a hot stove plate, the child feels a sudden, pulling and stabbing pain in the hand. The affected part of the hand appears reddened, swells up and is overheated. In the case of second-degree burns, additional blisters with weeping spots appear on the hand and the children complain of severe pain. If the child’s hand is exposed directly to fire or to a great deal of heat over a long period of time, third-degree burns can be accompanied by large burn blisters, extensive dead tissue down to the deep layers of the skin, and a loss of pain sensation.
Ointment for the treatment of burns
In the context of light and superficial burns in children, special ointments available in pharmacies can be applied after extensive cooling, under approx. 20 degrees of cold water. Many parents like to use a preparation of Bepanthen®, which is freely available in pharmacies under the name Bepanthen® Wound and Healing Ointment.
It can be applied several times a day to the affected area, cares for the skin and promotes the healing process. Burn and wound gels are also available in the pharmacy. With their long-lasting cooling effect, these not only relieve pain, but also regulate the moisture content of the skin and promote healing. In the case of extensive burns with pronounced damage to the skin structures, however, the use of such ointments should be avoided and a presentation should be made at the pediatrician or in a clinic.
