What does a third degree burn look like and how to treat it?

The largest medical portal dedicated to damage to the human body Consultation
with a doctor Each of us has probably encountered a burn. This pathology can manifest as slight redness and be completely harmless, or it can provoke a number of dangerous complications.

In our review, we will understand the causes, symptoms and consequences of such damage, and also answer the most frequently asked questions. How it manifests itself, what characteristic symptoms it has, how to properly provide first aid, and how further treatment is carried out: a 3rd degree burn is a serious injury that should not be underestimated.

All layers of skin are damaged

Forms of 3rd degree burns, their symptoms

The third category of burns is divided into two types, which differ in signs and symptoms. Separation helps doctors determine the extent of the affected areas and carry out further measures.

3A

This type affects the skin and surface layer. The burn mainly affects the sweat and sebaceous glands, as well as the hair follicles. Due to damage to the nerve endings, the victim may not feel pronounced pain.

Symptoms:

• bubbles with liquid contents (in particular blood) form on the surface of the wound;
• the area turns black;
• vascular changes;
• swelling.

It is almost impossible to restore the skin to its previous appearance after a burn; scars and cicatrices remain on the surface. In the future, cosmetic defects are removed using surgery. The speed of wound healing depends on first aid, proper treatment and the absence of complications.

3B

Level 3B has more severe consequences. In this case, the burn affects all layers of the skin, reaching the subcutaneous fat.

Symptoms:

• blisters filled with liquid appear at the site of the wound;
• the area becomes black, gray or dark brown;
• The victim practically does not feel pain.

Complete healing after a burn practically does not occur; pigmentation, scars and skin deformation remain. There may be decreased sensitivity and occasional numbness.

General information

Many people know that, depending on the depth of impact, all burns can be divided into four large groups. Unlike first and second degree injuries, which are characterized by superficial necrosis and usually heal well, third degree burns are characterized by damage to the inner layer of the dermis.

Classification

Due to the great depth of impact, such wounds take a very long time to heal. If, under the influence of a pathological factor, the germ layer of the dermis burns, natural tissue regeneration will be impossible, and the victim will need a skin transplant operation.

First aid for third degree burns

The speed of recovery after burns depends on first aid, so you need to know the basic rules:

• remove the person from the source of injury;
• use a clean, damp bandage to cool the burn surface;
• provide peace;
• give the victim sedatives and painkillers;
• remove clothing from the burned area. Sticky clothing can only be cut around without hiding it from the wound.

It should be remembered that treatment of stage 3 and 4 burns is carried out only in a hospital setting.

Photos of burnt people: an ethical issue

Unfortunately, fires often end in death. Sometimes firefighters are called very late. As a result, after extinguishing the fire, they find only burnt human remains. Everything is recorded on photo or video (necessary for the report).

People change a lot after a fire. It happens that relatives have to be called to identify the body, since it is impossible to do this from the existing photograph.

As we can see, the consequences of a fire are disastrous, so it is worth vaccinating PPB starting from virginity. In cities and large towns there are special clubs that provide training to those interested. Those who think that these are trifles need to be shown photos of burnt people after the fire. These shots are terrible. Most of them will change their minds in a couple of minutes.

Detailed instructions can be seen in the video:

Treatment of 3rd degree burns

To treat serious burns, complex therapy is used, which is aimed at improving the patient’s well-being and restoring the affected tissues. An important role is played by removing toxins from the body and preventing the development of complications.

Detoxification

Detoxification is aimed at removing harmful toxic substances from the human body, as well as restoring water balance. In case of third degree burns, it is necessary to clean the blood and tissues from the ingress of decay products of the burnt skin.

Drugs used:

• Refortan;
• Stabizol;
• Ringer-Locke and glucose solution;
• Sorbilact.

The volume of the drug used depends on the degree and depth of tissue damage. Detoxification provides protection against burn shock and poisoning.

Painkillers

During the treatment and recovery period, the burn area brings considerable pain to the patient.

Therefore, the doctor prescribes painkillers:

• Paracetamol;
• Ketoprofen;
• Nurofen;
• Citramon;
• Spasmalgon.

To speed up the healing process, ointments with an analgesic effect are used:

• Panthenol;
• Radevit;
• Levomekol.

Immediately after surgery, antiseptics and analgesics should not be used at the site of a 3B degree burn.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are aimed at combating infectious pathogens. The drugs prevent inflammation and eliminate pus in the wound, which forms in 70% of cases.

The following medications are used:

• Bicillin;
• Ceclor;
• Gentamicin;
• Cefazolin. Anti-inflammatory drugs

To relieve swelling and inflammation, ointments based on dexpanthenol are used. The most effective drugs:

• Bepanten;
• D-Panthenol;
• Pantoderm;
• Dexpanthen;
• Happyderm.

These agents fight components that cause inflammation (histamine, arachidonic acid). Regular treatment of the affected area helps restore skin and epidermal cells.

Antiseptic treatment

Various antiseptics are used to treat the skin. They are applied to a bandage and applied to the wound to protect the area from bacteria.

The following drugs are used:

• Olazol;
• Eplan;
• Vishnevsky ointment;
• zinc ointment;
• Ebermin.

The dressing should be changed 1-2 times a day.

Surgical intervention

After recovery from drug treatment, scars remain at the site of injury. To correct cosmetic defects, the patient will need plastic surgery. Treatment of serious scars is carried out using surgery, during which material is taken from a healthy area of ​​​​the skin and transplanted onto the damaged one.

Sometimes the doctor may use donor skin or lab-grown connective tissue cells. In some cases, scars are removed using photo correction or laser treatment.

Treatment tactics

Therapeutic tactics.
After the examination, the doctor decides on the method of recovery for the patient. For 1-2 degree burns, you need to apply a bandage with antiseptic agents and moisturize the wound with aerosols.

If 3-4 levels are burned, surgical intervention is necessary. The doctor relieves pain symptoms, stimulates the death of damaged tissues by applying special agents, which are subsequently removed.

After completion of the operation, the patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs. A daily examination, treatment with an anti-burn agent, and bandage replacement are also performed.

What should you not do if you have burns?

1. It is forbidden to apply a tight bandage to the damaged area, as removing it will cause unnecessary harm.
2. Do not touch the wound with dirty hands, bandages, cotton wool or gauze.
3. Before providing first aid, it is necessary to check the condition of the victim. If there are other injuries (fractures, dislocations), then transportation should be carried out with extreme caution.
4. Do not remove remnants of clothing from the surface of the wound.
5. Oil is not used to treat burns, as it promotes a warming effect and worsens the condition of the skin.
6. Treatment with raw eggs can lead to inflammation and infection of damaged skin.
7. Ice should not be used on burns, as low temperatures irritate the burned area.
8. Do not apply toothpaste to the wound.

Skin cooling

For shallow burns, the injured limb should be treated with running water. This will eliminate pain within a short period of time and normalize the condition of the cells. This procedure lasts from 10 to 15 minutes. In this case, the water is set at a temperature of no lower than twelve degrees. Cooling the affected leg with water will restore its condition and prevent further spread of the resulting burn. In this case, low-temperature liquid eliminates vascular spasm, reducing the susceptibility of nerve endings. Relief from pain will allow further treatment. It is worth keeping in mind that such cooling should not be carried out in cases where the skin has been exposed to a chemical substance that can react with water.

If, along with first-degree burns on the leg, there are also deep tissue injuries, it is necessary to immediately pay attention to them.

Possible complications

Complications often arise as a result of thermal, chemical and electrical burns. The destruction of the skin, in addition to local changes, leads to disruption of the functioning of the entire body.

Serious damage can cause burns, intoxication and septic condition.

That is why patients with stage 3 burns should be treated in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor^

• Burn disease is the body's response to severe damage resulting from a burn. Develops with 10% of the body affected in adults and 5% of the affected area in children.
• Endogenous intoxication syndrome. It occurs as a result of the negative effects of toxins on the human body. Harmful substances formed on the surface of the burn penetrate into the blood, liver and kidneys. As a result, the exchange and processing of decay products is disrupted. Advanced disease leads to renal and liver failure, which negatively affects the patient’s condition. Improper treatment can lead to the death of the patient.
• Infection and septic process. In some cases, burns can provoke the formation of infectious inflammations, which are treated with antibacterial drugs and infusion therapy.
• Furunculosis and phlegmon develop as a result of staphylococcal infection.
• Gangrene is a severe form of tissue damage characterized by necrosis. Unfortunately, in 90% of cases the disease leads to amputation of the limb.
• Purulent arthritis. As a result of pathology, tissue structures and the joint area are destroyed. The disease appears against the background of bacterial infection and can lead to disability.

A 3rd degree burn is a serious injury to the skin. Recovery requires at least 2 months of constant therapy and preventive measures.

As a result, after treatment, the patient needs surgery to get rid of scars and scars. Not only the positive outcome of treatment, but also the life of the patient depends on timely medical care.

Symptoms

The clinical signs of the pathology are similar, but depending on whether the germ layer of the skin is damaged or not, they are divided into 2 types.

3a

Burn 3a is characterized by burning of the entire epidermis with relative preservation of the germ layer. With such an injury, severe and prolonged pain develops. The surface of the burned tissues has a heterogeneous structure, is clearly hyperemic, and multiple merging blisters containing clear liquid are observed along its edges.

Note! It is important to differentiate this stage of pathology from a 2nd degree burn, in which blisters also appear, but the damage is less deep.

3b

Burn 3b is characterized by the destruction of nerve cells at the site of pathological impact and the almost complete absence of pain. The blisters are usually covered with a dry scab, with patches of dead skin hanging from the edges of the wound.

General symptoms

Such a deep burn injury cannot remain without a reaction from the body.
Common manifestations of burn disease include:

• weakness;
• severe fatigue;
• lack of appetite;
• dizziness, headache;
• nausea, vomiting;
• increase in body temperature.

Manifestations of intoxication and dehydration

A dangerous complication of injury is burn shock. It is accompanied first by a sharp increase in blood pressure, and then by a sharp drop to critical levels.

In addition, the consequences of pathology may be associated with:

• formation of deep scars;
• joint stiffness;
• incomplete restoration of body functions;
• bacteremia and sepsis;
• disorders of the central nervous system, respiratory, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal tract.

Internal organ failure may occur

Precautionary measures

In 86% of cases, burn wounds occur at home. Following safety precautions prevents accidents:

• fire alarms and fire protection systems are installed in the kitchen and boiler room;
• household chemicals are stored in containers with sealed lids;
• High-quality fuses are installed on electrical panels;
• pots of boiling water are placed on the last burners of the stove;
• Fire extinguishers are kept in fire hazardous areas;
• When working with welding, protect your hands with special gloves.

Prevention of burns involves following fire safety rules and handling chemical reagents. To prevent sunburn on your legs, you need to measure the duration of sunbathing and always use sunscreen.

Pain-relieving measures

When providing first, emergency aid for burns, it is important to eliminate discomfort in the injured person. If there are complaints of ongoing discomfort, it is recommended to offer him pharmaceutical medications.

If a person receives first-degree burns, they can take a tablet of Paracetamol, Analgin, Ibuprofen or Aspirin. The selected medication must be consumed throughout the day. If pain syndromes are constantly present, treatment of 1st degree burns of the legs should be prescribed by a doctor. By contacting a specialist, you can find out the reasons for such slow regeneration of the damaged skin area.

Applying a bandage

It is recommended to wrap your feet after a burn with a pre-cleaned scarf, towel or other available product. But first of all, you will need to remove areas of clothing and unnecessary objects from the treated area. You should not apply vegetable oil, manganese or brilliant green to the wound. It is also not recommended to use a bandage. After all, it can injure damaged areas of the skin. If a person burns his fingers, then pieces of cloth should be placed between them. This will prevent wounds from sticking and becoming infected.

The bandage is applied using any healing ointment. This could be, for example, Streptomycin or Levosulfamethakaine.