Partial Thickness Burn
What is a partial thickness burn?
A partial thickness burn is also called a second-degree burn. It is a skin injury commonly caused by exposure to heat for a limited time. The skin is made up of the epidermis (outer layer), dermis (second layer), and subcutaneous (fat and muscle; third layer) tissues. Burns may be grouped based on how deep the tissue is burned. They may be grouped into superficial, partial thickness, or full thickness burns.
A partial thickness burn occurs when the epidermis and some portion of the dermis have been burned. A partial thickness burn is more serious than superficial burn and may become infected easily. They may heal within 7 to 14 days, with some scarring.
What are the types of a partial thickness burn?
Superficial partial thickness burn:
The burn involves the epidermis and the superficial (top layer) dermis. There is no damage in the deeper layers of the dermis, sweat glands, or oil glands.
Deep partial thickness burn:
This burn involves damage in the deep (inner layer) dermis, sweat glands, and oil glands.
What causes a partial thickness burn?
Direct exposure to heat or flame is the most common cause of partial thickness burn. This includes contact with flames or hot objects such as an iron, a skillet, tar, cigarettes, or fireworks. The following may also cause partial thickness burn:
Chemicals:
Harsh chemicals, such as cleaning products, car battery acid, gasoline, wet or dry cement, lime, or chlorine.
Electricity:
Touching damaged electrical cords, outlets, or wires.
Scalding:
Burns from hot water, steam, or liquids, such as boiling water, coffee, or tea.
Sun:
Deep sunburns or too much use of tanning beds.
What are the signs and symptoms of a partial thickness burn?
Superficial partial thickness burn:
The skin is red, moist, very painful to touch, and has blisters. Areas of redness turn white when pressure is applied. This returns to red quickly when the pressure is removed.
Deep partial thickness burn:
The skin is mixed red or waxy white, wet or moist, and has no blisters. Some areas of redness may turn white when pressure is applied. This may return to red slowly or not all when the pressure is removed.
How is a partial thickness burn diagnosed?
The diagnosis of burn injuries depends on how deep the injury is and how much of the body is burned. Knowing how large your burn is helps caregivers decide on a treatment plan. Laser doppler scanners may be used to check the blood flow in your skin. Ask your caregiver for more information about this test.
How is a partial thickness burn treated?
You may need one or more of the following:
Medicines:
Antibiotics:
Antibiotics may be given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria.
Pain medicines:
These are medicines to take away or decrease your pain.
Tetanus shot:
This is medicine to keep you from getting tetanus. It is given as a shot. You should have a tetanus shot if you have not had one in the past 5 to 10 years. Your arm can get red, swollen, and sore after getting this shot.
Surgery:
Debridement:
This is done to clean and remove objects, dirt, or dead tissues from the burned area.
Escharotomy:
An incision (cut) along the eschar (dead tissue or scab) is made to decrease swelling. This is usually done when the arms, legs, or chest are burned all the way round.
Skin grafting:
A patch of skin is removed by surgery from one area of the body. The skin is transferred to the burned or wounded areas to help heal your injury. Artificial, or donor skin may also be used.
What is the first-aid for partial thickness burn?
For burns with blister:
Remove jewelry or tight clothing from the burned area before the skin begins to swell. Do not remove clothing if it is stuck to the burn.
Do not break closed blisters. This increases the risk of infection.
Flush the burned area with large amounts of cool running water. Clean it with mild soap and water to prevent infection.
Use a simple skin lubricant, such as aloe vera cream, to soothe the skin.
Take painkillers, such as acetaminophen, to relieve pain and swelling.
Put clean non-stick bandage to protect the burned area from dirt and more injury.
For burns caused by a chemical:
Remove clothing or jewelry on which the chemical has spilled right away.
Flush liquid chemicals from the skin completely with large amounts of cool running water. Avoid splashing the chemical into your eyes.
Brush dry chemicals off the skin if large amounts of water are not available. Small amounts of water will activate some chemicals, such as lime, and cause more damage. Be careful not to get any of the chemicals in your eyes.
Do not put butter, petroleum jelly, or other home remedies on skin burned by a chemical.
Put a clean non-stick bandage to protect the burned area from dirt and more injury.
For burns caused by tar:
Remove jewelry or tight clothing from the burned area before the skin begins to swell. Do not remove clothing if it is stuck to the burn.
Wash the tar and affected area with cool running water.
Once the tar is cooled, remove the tar by applying antibiotics, petroleum jelly, or mayonnaise to your skin. You may also use a mixture of mineral oil and cool water.
Seek emergency medical help if a burn is on the face, feet, hands, groin, buttocks, or major joints.
How can partial thickness burn be prevented?
Do not leave cups, mugs, or bowls containing hot liquids at the edge of a table. Turn the pot handles away from the stove front. Children can reach up and pull them down onto themselves.
Do not leave lit cigarettes unattended and discard them properly. Keep cigarette lighters and matches in a safe place where children cannot reach them.
Set your water heater to low or medium.
Use smoke detectors in the house and check them regularly to make sure they are working.
Wear sunscreen that has a sun protectant factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. The sunscreen should also have ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) protection. Follow the directions on the label when using sunscreen. Put on more sunscreen if you are in the sun for more than an hour. Reapply sunscreen often if you go swimming or are sweating a lot.
Where can I get support and more information?
Having a partial thickness burn may be life-changing for you and your family. Accepting that you have partial thickness burn may be hard. You and those close to you may feel sad, angry, depressed, or frightened. These are normal feelings. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. You may also want to join a support group. This is a group of people who have burn injuries. Contact the following support groups for more information about partial thickness burns:
American Academy of Family Physicians
PO Box 11210
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210
913-906-6000
1-800-274-2237
http://www.aafp.org
American College of Surgeons
633 N. Saint Clair St.
Chicago, IL 606113211
312-202-5000
800-621-4111
http://www.facs.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Mass Trauma
1600 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30333
www.cdc.gov/masstrauma
