Your skin can get burned if you touch something hot by accident, like picking up a hot pan straight from the oven or if you get splashed with boiling water. Skin burns can also be caused by the sun, electricity, chemicals, and radiation.
When you get burned, skin cells die. When skin is burned, it makes a protein called collagen, to help heal burn scars. Scars are thickened, discolored spots that form on the skin as it heals. Some scars are only superficial and will eventually fade away on their own. At times, certain burn scars do not heal and stay permanently.
Burn scars can either be big or small. Scars from burns that cover a large proportion of visible skin can change the way you look.
What are the four major types of burns that an individual can experience?
First-degree burns:
It is also referred to as superficial burn injury because it only affects the epidermis, which is the top layer of skin. Skin that has been burned turns red and hurts, but no blisters are generally formed. This type of burn does not require healing burn scars, as in the majority of cases scarring is not seen.
Second-degree burns:
Here, the heat gets a little deeper into the skin and hurts both the epidermis and the dermis. There is more redness and pain than usual, and blisters can be seen forming. This type of burn may be required to heal burn scars with mild burn scar removal treatment.
Third-degree burns:
In this case, the heat destroys the dermis and epidermis and goes deep into the subcutaneous tissue. Most of the time, the burned area looks charred and black. In such cases, it is important to heal burn scars to have an appealing look.
Fourth-degree burns:
Fourth-degree burns are the most serious type of burns, causing extensive damage to the skin, the dermis, the subcutaneous tissue, and even the underlying muscles and bones. These kinds of burns do not cause pain as the inner nerves are damaged. Fourth-degree burns can lead to severe charring. These burns are required to heal burn scars.
What might be the different types of scars?
Burn scars are of different types but they are segregated into three major categories, they include,
Hypertrophic scars:
They have raised scars that may feel warm and itchy when touched. They may look red or pink, are thicker, and firmer, and have more blood vessels than normal scars. They may take a few years to heal. Most hypertrophic scars don’t go over the margin and tend to fade away over time.
Keloid scars:
Keloid scars seem elevated and sometimes sensitive to touch. They start pink or purple but change to a brownish-red colour as they age. Keloid scars keep growing past the edges of the wound.
Contracture scars:
Most scars from third or fourth-degree burns are tight. They make your skin, tendons, and muscles tighter, which limits your range of motion and makes it harder to do everyday tasks.
No matter how big or small the burn scar is, there are treatments to heal burn scars quickly and improve the overall look. How to heal burn scars depends on the types of scars you have. If the scar is restricting the movement of a particular organ then might require surgery.
Can home remedies help heal burn scars?
Different home remedies are used to heal burn scars. But not all scars can be healed through simple ticks. At times a mild scar can be effectively treated with home remedies but scars that are caused due to severe burns may require medical procedures to heal.
Can burn scars completely heal?
Most scars appear in the first few months after a burn, get worse around 6 months, and mature or resolve in about 12 to 18 months. As the scars age, they lose their colour, flatten out, get softer, and are usually less painful.
What are the best ways to heal burn scars?
The treatment of a burn scar will depend on how bad it is and how big it is. Never attempt to treat yourself at home. Until you’ve talked to your burn care specialist. Book your appointment with the best plastic surgeon in Coimbatore, if you are facing burn scars.
Second-degree burn treatment:
- Apply a thin coating of prescribed antibiotic cream to speed up the process to heal burn scars.
- Cover the burn with a clean, non-adherent cloth or gauze to protect the region, prevent infection, and aid in the healing of the skin.
Third-degree burn scar treatment:
- Put on compression garments, which are tight, supportive clothing, over your burn to help it heal.
- You may need to wear compression garments for several months.
- You may also undergo surgery to release the parts of the body that have been constricted by contractures and restore mobility.
- A physiotherapist may assist you in regaining mobility in the constricted areas with mobility exercises.
What are the various advanced treatments to heal burn scars?
Laser treatment for burn scars:
In the laser light treatment of burn wounds, blood vessels in the extra tissue are targeted by UV rays. This can help get rid of the bumps and redness that are associated with the scars.
Cryotherapy to heal burn scars:
Liquid nitrogen is used in this method to freeze the scars as they form. It can be used to soften keloid scars before they fully come out. Cryotherapy has been used to treat keloid scars with some positive results.
Skin grafts:
This is a type of reconstructive surgery in which a portion of skin from a healthy part of the body, like the things, is used to replace the scarred skin. Moreover, the physician may obtain healthy skin from a donor. The burned region is cleaned and then covered with fresh skin. The region gradually heals and becomes smooth.
Flap surgery:
In contrast to skin grafting, in which the skin is removed without the blood supply, a flap is transferred along with the blood supply to cover the scar. This treatment contributes to the reconstruction of the scarred portion. Moreover, flap surgery yields excellent cosmetic results. In some cases, if the scars are on the hand you may need to undergo hand surgery to look more appealing.
Tissue expansion:
This method is often used in surgeries to fix things. In this procedure, a tissue expander, which is a silicone balloon, is put underneath the healthy skin and filled with a saline solution to make the skin look bigger. The tissue expander is taken out, and the burned area is covered with the skin that has been stretched.
What are the home remedies to help in the management of burn scars?
Aloe vera gel:
Aloe vera gel can help heal burn scars although usually for partially burned. It might help the scars from forming, To use,
- Using a natural aloe vera is beneficial, cut a part of the stem and take the clear gel.
- Apply gently on the burned area.
- Rest it for about 20 minutes.
- Wash the area with cold water.
Honey:
Researchers have found that raw honey remedy for burn marks can reduce inflammation, and help heal burn scars. It can help burns heal and lessen scarring and tightness. To use,
- Apply raw and natural honey to the dressing.
- Make sure the honey is touching the wound.
- Rest the dressing overnight.
- Change the dressing in the morning
What might be the complications that can occur due to burns?
Burns that aren’t too bad, should heal without causing any long-term issues. Deeper and worse burns can leave scars and lead to other problems, such as:
- Infection or sepsis
- Contractures
- Reduced body temperature
- Dehydration
- Damage of tissues
- Emotional health
Can burned skin go completely back to normal?
Most small, first or second-degree burns on the skin heal in one or two weeks and don’t leave scars. Some people with second-degree burns may see their skin get darker or lighter. This will go back to normal in 6 to 9 months.
How to heal burn scars fast?
There is no immediate way to heal burn scars, as the layers of skin are affected. Although it may usually take about 6 months to heal, few scars may disappear within weeks. The healing process of the scars are highly dependent on the layers it has affected and also the severity of the burn.
Are topical creams effective to heal burn scars?
Most burn scars do get better with scar creams and gels. But it will depend on the severity and the type of burn you are experiencing. Speak to your burn care specialist about what topical creams might be best suitable for you and help in quick recovery.
Important Takeaway:
Burns can be both mild and severe. Depending on the type of burn experienced. The burn scars are also dependent on the type of burn. Burn scars can be unpleasant and may not look appealing if the scar is on the visible front. But remember, burn scars can be treated with medical treatments. Reach out to a hospital for burn scars in Coimbatore to get advanced treatments to choose from.
