What is the danger
Is it possible to pierce a burn blister? This is a problem that victims face. Before understanding this issue, it is worth understanding that the appearance of even small bubbles is already serious damage to the skin. Bubbles can form through direct contact with fire, hot objects, chemicals, or during prolonged exposure to sunlight. Be sure to consult a doctor in the following cases:
- If more than ten percent of your body is damaged.
- If many small blisters appear on the skin, which eventually merge into one large one.
- If you see blisters in the groin area or on the face.
- If a child or an elderly person is burned.
Stages of healing of burn wounds
Healing of burn blisters takes a long time (from 2 weeks or more). How long the recovery process will take depends on :
- The severity of the burn injury;
- Damage area;
- General condition of the body;
- Patient's age.
The healing process is divided into 3 stages:
- The formation of a fluid-filled bubble due to the rejection of dead cells of the upper layer of the epidermis;
- Granulation . The processes of formation of new skin cells are launched. At the same time, the blister undergoes changes. It becomes sluggish, and the exfoliated skin becomes rougher and dries out over time. On palpation, a rough, rough area of skin is noted at the burn site;
- Epithelization. Old damaged cells are replaced with new ones. That is, a new upper layer of the epidermis is formed, which is replaced by exfoliated tissue. The dead tissue gradually falls off, revealing new pink skin underneath. Gradually, the color of the skin evens out somewhat. However, with more severe burns, cosmetic defects remain noticeable.
Is it possible to pierce a burn blister?
Blisters formed on the skin under the influence of high temperatures are cavity particles of the dermis. Most often, you can clearly distinguish serous fluid in them, causing inflammatory processes. Don't expect the bubble to go away on its own.
On the contrary, the longer it is present, the longer the wound will heal. In addition, a filled cavity may burst at the most unexpected moment, and you will not be able to disinfect it. According to doctors, it is absolutely useless to treat the bumps that have already appeared with Panthenol or other rescue agents. Therefore, to the question: “Is it possible to pierce a burn blister?” The obvious answer is: “You can.”
Further treatment
Further treatment after puncturing the bladder consists of changing the bandage daily and treating the wound surface with an antiseptic and ointment.
To treat burns, ointments such as:
- Levomekol - has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects; prevents the proliferation of bacteria, stimulates cellular nutrition of the skin, relieves inflammation, accelerates tissue regeneration and increases local immunity.
- Rescuer is a combined ointment with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects; Use with caution when treating burns in children, as there is a high probability of developing allergic reactions.
- Panthenol - stimulates and accelerates the regeneration of the skin, has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Bepanten is a wound-healing, decongestant and anti-inflammatory ointment; can be used even in the youngest children.
- Argosulfan is a silver-based ointment that has an antimicrobial, analgesic and regenerating effect, and the glycerin and petroleum jelly included in the composition soften the skin, preventing it from cracking.
You can open the bladder yourself only in exceptional cases and if it is impossible to go to the hospital, since even if all the rules are followed, the risk of wound infection remains. If signs of inflammation or suppuration of a burst bladder appear, you must see a surgeon.
When we get burns, no matter what degree, our skin suffers first. Is it possible to pierce a burn blister? This is the first question that worries affected patients.
If you have a second degree injury or higher, you may notice blisters appear on the surface of your body. Such formations can be found in places where they were directly exposed to high temperatures.
What to do after a burn
If you have a second degree burn, you need to take good care of it. However, it is advisable that a doctor do this.
Is it possible to pierce a burn blister on your hand? This type of damage occurs most often. Treat the damaged area with an antiseptic. Now take the thinnest needle and carefully pierce the blister. Make the puncture small. After all, all you have to do is pop the bubble. Take an antibacterial wipe and blot up any spilled liquid. Treat the wound with an antiseptic. Apply healing ointment to the wound. This will make the recovery process much faster.
Features of caring for a broken blister
Caring for burst blisters from burns should pursue the following goals:
- Preventing secondary infection is the main task.
- Acceleration of regeneration (restoration) of the skin.
To speed up healing, a daily change of bandage is necessary, since pharmaceutical preparations cannot provide one hundred percent protection of a weeping burn from pathogenic microorganisms. If the wound is treated with antiseptic solutions - hydrogen peroxide, Miramistin, Furacilin, Chlorhexidine - then the bandages are changed once a day; when using ointment - three times a day. The first treatment option is chosen when the blister is bleeding. In other cases, it is better to use creams or ointments that spread well over the affected surface.
If the decision is made to pierce the bladder, then treatment of the opened burn requires the use of the same ointments as a wound left without intervention with a needle. The doctor sometimes prescribes several medications at once. The most commonly prescribed are:
- Baneocin;
- Bepanten;
- Gentamicin;
- Dexpanthenol;
- Levomekol;
- Levomycetin ointment;
- syntomycin liniment;
- Panthenol.
Ointment anti-burn dressings, which simultaneously heal and have an antiseptic effect, facilitate wound care:
- Apollo;
- Branolind N;
- VoskoPran;
- Collachite;
- ParaPran.
Before using any of the medications, you should wash your hands thoroughly. If you intend to pierce a blister, then it is better to immediately forget about traditional medicine recipes. They can cause infection.
Oil burns
This type of skin damage is considered one of the most dangerous and very serious. This is due to the fact that the boiling point of oil is several times higher than the boiling point of water.
These burns may be first, second, third or fourth degree. If the patient has damaged an area of skin the size of his palm, he should urgently seek help from the hospital. But before visiting a doctor, you cannot do without self-help. Place the damaged area of skin under cold water for twenty minutes. This way you can relieve pain and cool the skin a little. There is no need to test medications and folk remedies on the damaged area.
Once you have moisturized the damaged skin, cover it with a clean bandage. You can use cling film, but do not squeeze the skin.
An oil burn can be very painful. In cases of severe pain, you can take painkillers. Do not treat the wound with oils, cream or sour cream. This only increases the risk of infection in the wound and delays the healing process.
If you are wondering whether it is possible to pierce a burn blister with oil, then listen to the recommendations of experts. Doctors prohibit carrying out such a procedure at home.
In this case, the blisters perform a protective function. They protect damaged areas of the body from infection and drying out. There is no need to worry, the bubble with liquid will open on its own in a few days. Follow this and treat the wound with an antiseptic.
How to pierce correctly
If blisters appear from burns, then this is not considered a dangerous phenomenon; on the contrary, it can protect against unpleasant consequences, and if the question arises whether it is possible to pierce, it is better to consult a doctor. Many experts do not advise doing this, but sometimes it is a necessary measure.
A doctor should open the bladder for burns. The procedure must be performed in accordance with the following algorithm:
- The first thing you need to do is wipe your hands with alcohol.
- The blister is treated with an antiseptic - hydrogen peroxide, Chlorhexidine. You need to wipe the damaged area, as well as the skin around it.
- A needle is used for opening; you can use a sterile syringe. Rusty tools should not be used. The needle is treated with an antiseptic or alcohol.
- Additionally, you need to prepare a sterile bandage. Cotton wool or a cotton pad will not work.
- Afterwards, the blister is carefully punctured, a bandage is applied to it, and the liquid is gently squeezed out with it. The skin is not removed.
- The surface is treated with any antiseptic - hydrogen peroxide or Chlorhexidine.
- An ointment with antibacterial properties is applied - Gentamicin, Salicylic, Erythromycin.
- A bandage should be applied to the damaged area; it should not be too tight. It needs to be changed at least 3 times a day. If an old bandage is left for a long time, it can provoke the development of pathogenic microflora, which will lead to suppuration and severe inflammation.
Treatment of inflammation of blisters from burns
Is it possible to pierce a burn blister on a finger or hand? This can be interpreted as ambiguous. If you have been burned by boiling water and the affected area is not too large, you can carry out this procedure at home. But when burning your body with oil, it is better not to self-medicate. A small blister will resolve on its own, but a large one requires medical attention.
After puncture of a bubble with liquid, a post-burn condition may appear. Do not delay treatment because the damaged surface has become infected. Keep your skin moisturized and avoid damaging it with bandages.
Summarize. Burn blisters can be punctured. But it is better if a doctor does this. At home you can get an infection. If the blister opens on its own, immediately treat the wound with an antiseptic. If there is significant damage to the skin, call an ambulance immediately. Follow the recommendations correctly, and the burn will not seem like a serious illness to you.
When is it necessary to see a doctor?
The formation of blisters indicates deep damage to the soft tissues, that is, not only the upper layer of the epidermis is involved. This is why it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Urgent hospitalization is required in the following cases:
- Large burn area;
- Deep tissue damage (burn of 3rd and 4th degree of severity);
- Signs or risk of shock;
- Burns in children, elderly people and pregnant women;
- Burns of mucous membranes.
Surgeons treat burns with blisters. The patient can independently go to the emergency room or call an ambulance (which will take him to the emergency room or surgical department). In large cities there are burn centers that specialize in treating burns of varying severity.
What is the difference between sunburn blisters and allergy rashes?
Typically, diagnosing blisters from the sun is not difficult - it is easy to associate the time a person spent under the scorching rays and the characteristic marks from their exposure. But some people have a disease called photodermatitis - this is an inadequate, allergic reaction to ultraviolet rays.
To distinguish between these two conditions, you need to remember the following:
- photodermatitis is a problem in the functioning of the immune system, and blisters are a consequence of the destruction of skin cells by sunlight;
- with photodermatitis, the skin becomes thickened, swollen and clearly pigmented, and blisters with sunburn do not show such changes;
- blisters are always large in size with liquid contents inside; with photodermatitis, small blisters may appear (painless, no burning sensation).
Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, so it is recommended that if a problem arises, seek qualified medical help.
This rule is especially important to follow if blisters form on the child’s body or face - his immune system is imperfect, and complications may develop
First aid
Immediately after an injury, you need to treat the affected area with cold
. You can keep it under running cold water for 10-15 minutes and apply lotions. Once the burned skin cools down, it needs to be disinfected. To do this, use rinsing solutions:
- potassium permanganate;
- furacillin;
- chlorhexidine;
- miramistina;
- hydrogen peroxide.
When blisters appear, they should not be punctured or cut off to avoid infection. After washing with the solution, you need to apply a special anti-burn ointment or cream
, and bandage with a sterile bandage.
Thus, the first aid scheme is as follows:
- cooling the affected area;
- antiseptic treatment;
- applying an anti-burn agent;
- preventing burn shock (taking painkillers, sedatives).
What to do if a blister bursts?
If the bubbles have burst or there is a need to puncture them, this must be done carefully, carefully observing all safety precautions:
- Sterilize the instrument with which the puncture will be performed;
- Treat the burn area of a child with blisters with an antiseptic solution;
- Puncture or trim loose skin with a sterile instrument;
- Apply a layer of a drug that provides a complex of restorative measures;
- Using a sterile dressing, protect the wound from dirt and damage.
How can dry ice help in treatment?
Ice will not be able to stop the inflammatory process, the appearance of bubbles, or the development of a bacterial agent. It has a low temperature, so it eliminates hyperthermia on the skin.
Ice should not be applied directly to the epidermis. It can cause additional burns, which will increase inflammation and pain. Frozen water is placed in clean gauze and applied to the wound. These actions are carried out in the acute stage or in the presence of a healing stage.
The temperature gradually decreases, so pain is eliminated. The fluid under the skin will accumulate more slowly, so the size of the blister will decrease.
When the ice melts, the gauze with its internal contents is changed. Repeatedly make a cooling compress, applying it to the tissues. The procedure is repeated until the acute stage stops. The method can be used instead of treatment with running cool water.
If the patient has open wounds, the procedure is not applicable, since contact of the towel and subcutaneous areas will lead to increased pain.
In what cases is a puncture necessary?
The need to puncture a blister depends on its location on the body. There are places where a large blister will constantly interfere and restrict movement. These include:
- Hands;
- feet;
- neck area;
- popliteal and elbow bends;
- shoulders, back.
If you have received a second-degree burn in one of these places, and the blister is constantly in the way, being squeezed by clothing, clinging or preventing you from walking, it will be easier and safer to puncture it than to wait until it bursts on its own, unable to withstand the mechanical impact.
After all, the number of pathogenic microorganisms on your clothes, shoes or furnishings is always higher than on a sterilized thin needle .
How can you help with a chemical burn?
First aid is carried out:
- Call an ambulance and remove the reagent. The time of the procedure and the substance used to wash the wound depends on the type of reagent.
- Rinse it off under water. Rinse for at least 15 minutes, and if more than 15 minutes have passed since the burn, the time increases to 40 minutes.
- Determine which reagent caused the lesion. This will determine which substance is chosen as a neutralizing agent in order to alleviate the situation before the doctors arrive.
- Fluorine compounds - washed from 30-40 minutes to 3 hours.
- Powdery substance - water rinse should not be used. When interacting with water, the powder will turn into a more aggressive liquid, which will cause more serious damage. The powder is first removed with a napkin, after which the wound can be washed.
- The damaged area should not be covered or bandaged. Before the doctors arrive, drink more hot tea and coffee.