Vitality News Health Articles

Our skin is responsible for the heat and humidity exchange of our bodies and for its protection against infection. Once it is burned, our skin loses these abilities.

While burns on fingers and hands are usually not life threatening, they will cause swelling. In fact, burns of the face and neck can sometimes swell enough to cause difficulty breathing and restrict blood flow. If you feel symptoms such as shortness of breath or a numbing sensation in your extremities, call your doctor immediately.

How to Deal with Chemical Burns

Many chemical burns occur accidentally through misuse of products such as those for hair, skin, and nail care or commonly used cleaning products. With minor chemical burns you can take the following steps to treat them:

* Remove the chemicals by flushing them off the skin surface with cool, running water for at least twenty minutes. If the burning chemical is a powder-like substance, brush it off the skin before flushing. . *Remove clothing that has been contaminated by the chemical.

*Use a cool, wet cloth to alleviate pain and wrap the burned area loosely with a dry, sterile bandage.

*Wash the burned area again if the burning sensation persists after the initial washing.

If the burn is severe or is accompanied by symptoms such as shock, fainting, paleness or shallow breathing, you must seek medical attentionimmediately. Also seek out medical attention if the burn has caused a second degree burn or covers an area more than three inches in diameter, if the burn has occurred on the eye, hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or over a major joint or if over-the-counter drugs cannot control the pain.

How to Deal with Electrical Burns

Electrical burns are provoked by an external electrical shock. They may seem minor, but the damage can extend deep into the tissues beneath your skin. Strong electrical currents can cause internal damage, such as heart arrhythmias or heart attacks.

You should always seek emergency medical attention immediately when a person has suffered a chemical burn. While you are waiting for help to arrive, follow the steps detailed below.

Look first and then touch. The person may still be in contact with the the source of electricity. Next, turn off the source of electricity if possible or move it away from the injured person using a non conducting object.

Then, check for breathing and a pulse. Begin CPR immediately if you cannot find signs of either. Finally prevent shock by keeping their legs elevated and protect the damaged area with a sterile gauze bandage, if available. Don’t use a towel or blanket to cover the wound because loose fibers could get stuck to the wound.

Scar Treatment for Burns

Severe burns will leave scars. There are a few treatment options in these cases ranging from creams to surgery.

Since scars become less elastic the do not allow for the normal range of motion. Lotions can help moisturized the scarred tissue and help with the dissolution of old scars. In some cases, scar removal through surgical procedures is necessary.

Burn scar treatment is vital to keep your skin healthy after the formation of scars. It can comprise natural scar treatment in the form of lotions or creams like Bioskinrevival that will aid scar exfoliation. Check out the rest of our products for scar treatments and other skin conditions.

- Samara Al Romaithi