Any tips to take care of my burn?!
Question: So on Wednesday I burned my arm with scalding water (likely in excess of 400 degrees - super heated in a 2000 degree metal tube) in about a 4" patch. Since then the flesh in the area has come off to expose dark red raw flesh underneath. It has crusted over with a yellowish-brown scab-like structure that cracks and bleeds if I move my wrist around too much or stretch my arm. It is extremely painful at the perimeter which is red and swollen. I've been putting aloe and vitamin C cream on it from time to time and letting it air dry in between. I don't think it is infected, but I would like to know if there is anything else I should be doing. Any nurses/doctors out there have any input?
Answers: So on Wednesday I burned my arm with scalding water (likely in excess of 400 degrees - super heated in a 2000 degree metal tube) in about a 4" patch. Since then the flesh in the area has come off to expose dark red raw flesh underneath. It has crusted over with a yellowish-brown scab-like structure that cracks and bleeds if I move my wrist around too much or stretch my arm. It is extremely painful at the perimeter which is red and swollen. I've been putting aloe and vitamin C cream on it from time to time and letting it air dry in between. I don't think it is infected, but I would like to know if there is anything else I should be doing. Any nurses/doctors out there have any input?
Yes, dear GET TO A HOSPITAL NOW!!!! That yellow crust is plasma... Whether it is infected or not now, it soon will be without proper treatment, also when it scars, and it will, it may well limit the mobility of your wrist. You must get this treated ASAP and get some silvidine... you may need debridement and treatment at a burn center. Aloe and vitamin c cream are for minor little things like the minor sunburns, not a third degree ( at best a 2nd degree ) burn like you have. YOU NEED A DOCTOR NOW.
DO not put anything else on it like aloe or vitamin c cream and silvadine is prescription in the US... You need a hospital and silicone sheeting etc ONLY after the burn has been properly treated. DO NOT screw around with this if you value the use of you arm
You must must must go to the ER if you have no better alternatives go tonight before it gets out of control
Aloe is the best.
Get some aloe, or check with your local pharmacy for some silvadene cream.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-a...
There is a lot of info on this site, because of your description and the size though you need to have the burn looked at by a professional. If you don't have insurance and are in school see if your campus has any options available to you.
gO TO A DOCTOR
GO NOW TO A DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!! Honey this in serious!
you need to see a doctor. but, if you choose not to do so, you should get some anti-bac ointment, and some wool fat to keep it softer so it wont crack, but even with the anti-bac, you still run a high risk of infection. it doesn't sound as if any dermenicrosis, or death of the tissue, has begun, and it does sound as though it's on it's way to healing, but this sound like a third degree burn, and you need to see a doctor. good luck. i hope you feel better soon!
Ok, stop with the vitamin c cream. Keeping it clean is good, but if it burned like that really fast right now you have very little natural protection against germs and infectants that you come into contact with every single day. You need to go to the doctor's and get some cream for it that has (I believe) zinc in it and believe me that will heal so well you will have a hard time finding the scar, but scarring aside, staff is a very real danger. PLEASE, go and seek medical treatment.