Hot surfaces, fire, explosions and exposure to certain chemicals can all lead to burns. No matter what the cause of the burn, proper care is necessary to ensure that it heals as well as possible.
Many different factors impact how a burn will affect a person’s life. In the case of severe burns, the impacts can last for a lifetime. Here are some important points that you should remember if you or a loved one is facing burn injuries:
The body loses its protective barrier
When a burn occurs, the skin is damaged. The skin is the body’s protective layer that helps to keep bacteria and germs out. A burn of any severity can lead to serious issues if it isn’t properly cared for. One of the big risks that you face is an infection.
A burn that gets infected isn’t likely going to heal like it would have if it didn’t get infected. The infection can lead to serious health complications, including catastrophic injury and the person becoming septic. Septicemia is a life-threatening situation that is often difficult to treat.
Intensive treatments might be necessary
Treatments for a minor burn often involve putting a topical medication on the area and possibly taking over-the-counter pain relievers. More serious burns can require intensive treatments. Some patients who suffer third-degree or fourth-degree burns will usually need immediate medical care. In some cases, specialized care might be necessary.
Debridement is a process in which dead tissue is removed from the burn. This is usually very painful and will likely have to be performed more than once. Another possible treatment that a burn victim will face is a skin graft. This uses skin from another area of the body to place the skin on the burned area. This helps the healing process.
Lifelong impacts
One of the possible ways that a burn victim’s life will be impacted is due to the scarring that occurs at the burn site. Minor burns likely won’t leave noticeable scars, but more severe burns and large burns can leave very noticeable scarring. When the burn is in an area that isn’t easily covered, such as the face, the victim will have to learn to live with disfigurement.
The pain that comes with severe burns and the medical checkups that are likely going to continue to occur will also impact the person’s life in a negative manner. All of these will likely make life more difficult than it was prior to the burn injury.