The skin can suffer mild to serious burns from a fire outbreak, or getting in contact with a hot object or water. Depending on the degree of burns, it can cause damage to the outer layers or deeper layers of the skin. Without proper and immediate medical care, burn injuries can be infected, causing serious consequences.
Burns don’t only cause severe pain and discomfort but sometimes result in permanent disfigurement. After such a traumatic incident and healing, you would want to remove everything that reminds you of the incident. You may want to get rid of the scars like keloid, or skin pigmentation born out of the serious burns. Now, let’s look at some medical processes that can help eliminate or reduce the appearance of burn scars.
Contents
Classification of serious skin burn
Burns are classified based on the severity and depth of the burns’ damage to the skin. There are three main classifications of serious burns
First-degree burns
This type of burn damages only the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis). It is the least severe type of burn and usually comes with redness, pain, and swelling, of the skin. It doesn’t cause permanent damage.
Second-degree burns
This goes deeper, affecting both the epidermis and the demise (skin layer after the epidermis). Such burns cause blistering, intense pain, and swelling, of the skin. It may also result in scarring.
Third-degree burns
A third-degree burn is the most severe type of burn and damages the full thickness of the skin. It can even go deeper to affect underlying tissue, muscles, and bones. Third-degree burns require immediate medical attention since it causes serious damage and can be fatal. It can result in permanent scars, disfigurement, and disability.
Types of burn scars
Serious burns mostly result in temporal or permanent scarring. You can suffer any of the following scars.
Hypertrophic scars: These are raised, red, and thick scars that develop at the area of the burn wound. Symptoms include pain, itchiness, and difficulty in movement.
Keloid scars: Keloids have some similarities with hypertrophic scars; however, they grow beyond the burn area. It is a shiny bump This makes it difficult to treat.
Contracture scars: These are the most common type of burn scars and occur when the skin tightens and contracts, restricting movement and possibly damaging underlying tissue.
Effects of burns
The effects of burns range from physical to psychological. Depending on the severity of a burn, victims can suffer,
- Loss of limbs
- Disfigurement
- Mobility challenge
- Scarring
- Psychological trauma
- Affects one’s confidence level
- Infections
Serious burns can also cause a cognitive decline due to the psychological trauma a victim may experience.
Treatment for serious burn scars
The treatment for burn scars depends on the extent of damage to the skin. Minor scars will need basic treatments including the use of burn creams, while serious scars will need a surgical procedure.
Surgery
A serious burn scar can cause complete body disfigurement. For example, a face burn can completely affect your facial looks, leading to discomfort and a lack of confidence. Such burns will require a surgical process to correct the deformity. Plastic surgery for nasal and facial reconstruction is one of the best ways to remove facial scars and deformities.
According to a plastic surgeon in Washington DC, “a disfigured nose or face resulting from burns or natural causes, can cause emotional distress and social stigma”. To correct this, “You need a Rhinoplasty Plastic Surgery Washington DC, which wouldn’t only enhance your appearance but also your breathing function” he added. You can undergo plastic surgery to correct, eliminate or reduce the appearance of burn scars on any part of your body.
Skin graft
Skin grafting involves taking healthy skin from one part of the body and transplanting it onto the burned area to enhance healing. The process can drastically reduce or eliminate scarring. After the process, you need to ensure proper care area to enhance healing.
Laser treatment
Laser therapy is one of the common ways to reduce the appearance or get rid of burn scars. There are several types of laser therapy and the severity of the scars and skin type determine the laser treatment. the common type of laser used for this treatment is fractionated laser.
Pressure therapy
Pressure therapy is another common treatment option for burn scars. It is the application of constant pressure to soften and flatten the affected area. This helps to reduce the appearance and texture of scars. An example of pressure therapy is by applying pressure garments. The pressure garment made from elastic materials is worn over the affected area for recommended hours each day until the situation improves.
Conclusion
How easily you can get rid of a burn scar depends on the severity of the burns. Also, the swiftness with which you seek medical care after a burn can determine its aftermath effects. Minor scars from a first-degree burn can disappear with less or no treatment. However, scarring from a third-degree burn is the most difficult to treat and eliminate and may require expensive medical procedures. The only way to deal with such scars is through surgical procedures, laser treatment, grafting, etc. depending on the type of scar. You need to ensure proper care of the affected areas after undergoing any of the above procedures to avoid or reduce side effects.
