Added: 12/02/2005 |
Skin burn is always an injury damaging and destroying skin layers on different levels and degreesSkin is the largest organ of any person. It protects other body parts and muscles from undesirable external factors (for example, bacteria, chemicals, pathogens, etc.). It's interesting to admit that average square inch of skin holds approximately 650 sweat glands, twenty blood vessels, 60 thousand melanocytes and over a thousand nerve endings. Thus, skin is considered to be the anatomical natural barrier between internal and external environment of the human body. It acts as a "storage center" for water and lipids.
Skin burn is a very often problem for the majority of people. It is an injury of the skin caused, as a rule, by heat or wind, flames, extreme cold, electricity, radiation or chemicals. When your skin is damaged with the skin burn fluid leaks into it from the nearest blood vessels which causes swelling and feeling of pain. As a result the skin becomes vulnerable to any invading organisms so it can be easily infected.
Every more or less informed person knows that one of the most common and at the same time most preventable skin burns is sunburn. Such skin burn is caused by the ultraviolet sun rays which are able to damage your skin in a pretty short period of time. Speaking about skin burn caused by sun or wind it's impossible not to mention that one of its symptoms is red (redden) skin. The skin usually becomes red and sensitive to any touch, you feel washed out, some mild dizziness may appear.
Among other widely spread skin burns causes there's contact with hot liquids (or scalds). It is evident that scalds with hot oil are very severe and cause more damage to the skin than scalds with simple hot water. There are two reasons of the mentioned statement: first is that comparing with water oil hits to higher temperatures, and second is that oil can remain on the skin for a longer period of time. You should be aware that clothing retains skin and keeps your skin longer with scalding liquid that's why covered with clothes areas may yield severe skin burn.
Incorrect use of different flammable liquids and auto accidents may also damage your skin. In this case clothing can help you much and even protect from some severe skin burns. The most progressive and harmful skin burn can usually be caused by chemicals or industrial accidents. The severity of such burns depends on the kind of particular chemical, amount of skin involved and length of exposure.
All the skin burns are classified according to the degree or level of deepness and damage they cause to the person. Three skin burns degrees are known and used in modern medical practice. The first degree skin burn doesn't hurt the skin much because it is limited to the epidermis. The burned surface becomes red and moistened. It is also characterized by pain and heat. The first degree skin burn usually heals within three to seven days. They scar very seldom.
The second degree of skin burn is much deeper and superficial. They destroy not only epidermical skin layer, but also extend into dermis. Such burns are characterized with intense swelling, produce blisters, redness and severe pain in the damaged skin area. The second degree skin burns usually heal in ten to twenty days. You should be aware such skin burns can change the color of the skin and pigmentation.
The full-thickness skin burn is known to have the third degree of damage. The skin becomes leathery and charred. Unfortunately such burns may cause massive swelling but no pain. The reason is that third degree skin burn destroys all nerves endings so that the person can feel nothing.
Skin burn may hurt anyone. And very often it happens unexpectedly. That's why it is very important to be informed about the nature and causes of skin burns as well as their degrees and ways of treatments.
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