When working with aggressive substances such as acid, alkali or lime, there is always a chance to spill or spill the substance and get a skin burn. The degree of damage received will directly depend on the speed of the reaction and the ability to provide first aid to one's neighbor. What should be done if aggressive agents have come into contact with the skin?
First aid
The first step in helping the victim is to eliminate the burning effect. If something flows, drips or pours, then the victim must be moved away from the affected area, observing his own safety. Further assistance is provided in a certain sequence:
- Remove clothing and accessories stained with chemicals from the victim.
- The skin at the lesion site is washed with water for about 20 minutes. If help is late, then flushing continues longer (up to 40 minutes).
- Dry and powder chemicals are shaken off first and only after that start washing.
- With an acid burn, the substance is neutralized by washing with a soda solution. And with alkaline damage, they are washed with a weak solution of acid (vinegar).
- The site of lime damage is treated with a sugar solution, the concentration of which should not exceed 20%. It is impossible to rinse with running water, otherwise the chemical burn of the skin will become stronger.
- The damaged area is protected with a sterile cloth or a bandage.
Next, the victim is taken to the hospital. This can be done on your own or by calling an ambulance.
What substances are most often burned
Chemical skin burns most often occur through negligence. People do not follow safety precautions when working with various acids, alkalis, gasoline, kerosene, phosphorus, bitumen and other hazardous substances. Among acid burns, sulfuric, nitric, and hydrofluoric acids are leading .
Kerosene and gasoline are burned when working in a garage or when trying to remove a stain from paint, tar or wax. Bitumen can get on the skin during construction or repair work. The substance is hot and adheres tightly to tissue or skin. This complicates the chemical burn with thermal damage.
Determining the degree of damage
A section of medicine called "combustiology" deals with the treatment of burns. Specialists in this field argue that if the first aid was performed correctly, the degree of damage decreases by one, and if it is wrong, the degree of burn increases.
The degree of damage is distinguished as follows:
- Chemical burn of the skin of the I degree is an edematous and reddened area of the skin, painful to the touch.
- Grade II is characterized by the appearance of blisters (vesicles) containing a clear liquid. The affected skin looks swollen, they are painful to the touch.
- With the III degree, the burn penetrates the skin up to the subcutaneous tissue. Partial tissue necrosis occurs , the reaction is impaired, since the nerve endings are melted.
- At the IV degree of a chemical burn, the destruction of the deep layers occurs. A burn affects not only the skin, but also the muscles, ligaments, bones, internal organs.
It is not always possible to understand on the spot how much a person has suffered from chemical exposure. The exact extent of the problem is clarified only after 1-2 weeks, when there is suppuration of the scab area. In addition, the burn area is important.
Medical Area Definition
Doctors determine the size of a burn in several ways. The first is called the "rule of nines." In this case, the surface of the skin of an adult patient is divided into conditional 11 sites, each of which is considered as 9% of the surface:
- chemical burn of the skin of the face, head and neck - 9%;
- damage to the upper extremities - 9% * 2;
- damage to the lower extremities - 18% * 2, that is, each leg 2 times 9%;
- skin of the front of the body - 18%;
- skin of the back of the body - 18%.
Remains 1 percent, which conditionally falls on the skin of the perineum.
Second way
The second method is based on the assertion that the palm area of an adult is about 1% of the skin surface. With limited exposures to the palm of the hand, the area of the lesion is measured, with extensive burns, the size of the uninjured areas of the skin. With deep chemical lesions, the victim develops a burn disease. The course of the disease directly depends on the area and depth of exposure.
In which cases self-treatment is acceptable
If there is a chemical burn of the skin, treatment at home is permissible only with I degree of damage. But this provided that the first aid was provided correctly and the consequences of the defeat are minimal. If an extensive burn of I degree is received, then it is necessary to consult a doctor.
With second-degree burns, independent treatment can be tried only with a small lesion area. If the blister is more than 5 cm, then you can not postpone the visit to the doctor. After contacting the burn center with lesions of the first or second degree, hospitalization is not necessary.
A chemical burn of the III and IV degree may require surgical intervention, since self-repair of tissues is slowed down or does not occur at all. You should not take risks if a person has a severe chemical skin burn. Treatment at home will still not give a result. It follows that with deep burns, going to the doctor is a matter of life and death for the victim.
Treatment methods
At the hospital, doctors evaluate the condition of the victim and only after that decide how to treat a chemical skin burn. The affected area is additionally washed, treated with antiseptics. The patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics and painkillers. Using droppers, restore the body's water balance. Depending on the degree and area of the lesion, a skin transplant is performed from intact parts of the body.
Doctors have two goals:
- Achieve tissue regeneration.
- Prevent infection of affected areas or minimize the negative impact on the body.
Recovery from severe chemical burns is slow. Even after tissue healing, doctors observe their patients for years to help them recover as much as possible.
How to treat a chemical burn at home
Chemical burns of the I and II degrees (up to 5 cm) can be treated at home. But even with small foci, localized in the face, hands, feet or perineum, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
If during home treatment there are signs of secondary infection of the wound, that is, the edges become red and swollen, purulent discharge appears, body temperature rises and pain intensifies, then the treatment does not help and professional help is needed.
For home treatment, an ointment for chemical burns of the skin on a gel or water basis is used. These include the following drugs:
- Panthenol;
- Levomekol;
- "Vishnevsky ointment" ;
- "Rescuer";
- "Dermazin";
- Solcoseryl;
- Bepanten and much more.
It is acceptable to use sprays containing panthenol. When processing use sterile bandages, wipes and gloves. Hands must be treated with special means so as not to infect the infection.
Common mistakes
Despite the advice of grandmothers and neighbors, who are well-known experts in all areas, remember that many actions do significant harm:
- Never open blisters on burns at home, this opens the way for infection.
- Do not lubricate affected areas with oil, protein, sour cream or alcohol.
- Do not wash the chemical burn with urine, otherwise infection is guaranteed.
- Do not touch the wound surface with your hands, but only with sterile tampons or a napkin.
- Do not apply medicinal plants to a burn.
- Do not use cotton wool and bandage when dressing.
The best option for home treatment is to first get a specialist consultation and identify health risks.