Burns are nasty. Most ailments are but burns more particularly so. Your skin is never the same once it has been moderately or severely burnt. Sensitivity, itchiness and tightness of the skin never really go away. And then there are the scars – a painful reminder of a painful episode. Even long after the burn, these scars are susceptible to itching and the skin dries making appear rough and scaly.
Depending on the severity of the burn (first, second, or third degree), burns take time to heal. So it’s important to do all the right things to ensure that you heal as fast as you can. And the thing with burn wounds is that, even years later, if you do something wrong it will be as if the incident is repeating all over again. The severity of the pain is such. First degree burns aren’t all that worrisome because all they leave behind is a discoloration. It is the second degree and third degree burns that are more concerning. Here, The Week has compiled a list of things you can do to take care of severe burns wounds and scars.
Make burn care treatment available in Nepal
Moisturize
Constant itching on the burn scar regardless of the degree of burn is rather common. The burn damages the oil glands of the burned area and that is why your skin feels dry and you get the tendency to itch. If you are itching it’s actually good news. It means your skin is healing. But the intensity of the itch varies and if you begin scratching the area, chances are you will end up opening the fragile healing skin. This is why keeping the area moisturized is very important. Never apply moisturizers on burn areas forcefully. Take a generous amount of moisturizer and gently rub it on the skin. Make circular movements and do it slowly. Regular moisturizing may also prevent skin tightening.
Massage therapy
Long after incurring the burn, the area of the skin is scarred and it isn’t just the appearance the scar affects. Because of these scars, itching, skin sensitivity or just pain is very common. Massage therapy is for that – to give relief to the skin when there’s pain and itching. Before opting for this though be sure that your burn is fully healed as the repercussions of massaging unhealed burns is scary. Massage therapy entails a variety of massaging techniques: stroking, skin rolling, kneading and stretching. There are professionals in Nepal who have been trained at this and it is their service that you should seek. How massage therapy works is that it lessens the tightness of the skin by reaching into the scar tissue beneath your skin.
Pressure garments
Chances are your burns may not just be in the easily viewable parts of your body. You may burn areas of skin that always need to be covered up. But you and we both know that covering burned areas even after the initial phase of healing has passed delays skin repair. In some cases the cover up may just worsen the burns. But when you have no other choice but to cover up the area, you wear pressure garments. Pressure garments are made of elastic material so that they fit tightly on the skin. As it is snug and envelopes your skin, chances of itching is reduced. However, don’t use oil-based moisturizers when you are planning to wear pressure garments. The moisturizer may cause the pressure garment to break.
For rashes and sores
Even if you’re the type to never get rashes, the burn may just as well give you your first rash. Getting rashes and sores in burned areas is normal, especially when it is healing and you don’t have your pressure garment on. Using an ice cube over the burn is an option. Wash the area with soap and water and pat dry it. Now put some Vaseline or Polysporin on it. You could also wrap it with some gauze. This will not just give it the moisture it requires but it will keep the area clean as well. Do not try to tightly cover the area. Fan some air on the rash for instant relief. Also make sure to avoid direct contact with the skin. And repeat this process two to three times a day.
Little things
Burn scars can take anywhere from between from a month to a year or even more to heal. In most cases though, the puckering of the skin and scars are inevitable. Although specific techniques exist, accelerating healing isn’t about just adopting a method. It’s about being conscious of the tiny details that actually may be of greater significance. So, never use scented moisturizers (even sunscreens) for the itches. Use non-perfumed detergents to wash your pressure garments. And if you have a tendency to scratch the burn, distract yourself with a movie or just walk around a little. Cut your fingernails short so that the scratch may be less severe if you end up succumbing to the itch. Also take regular baths to help with the itching, preferably with lukewarm water. Apply some baby oil on the affected area right after you take a bath.
