Always take precautions to protect yourself when tending to someone who has received a chemical burn. For example, you may need to wear long sleeves, gloves, a mask, goggles, or other protective gear to prevent yourself from receiving a similar injury. If there are any dry chemicals left on the victim’s skin, then brush these chemicals off before irrigating the area.
Leaving these items on may cause further damage. You will also need to be able to access the burn site to brush off any leftover dry chemicals and irrigate the area with water.
Don’t use a high pressure stream of water to wash the skin. Too much water pressure can make the chemical burn worse by driving the chemical deeper into the skin. Just use light irrigation by holding the wound under a gentle stream of water and keep it there for a long time. Some chemical burns should not be treated with immediate irrigation. These include dry lime, elemental metals such as sodium, and phenol. This is because combining these chemicals with water causes a harmful exothermic (heat-producing) reaction and/or releases hazardous byproducts. For chemicals in the eyes, remove contact lenses and use an eyewash. These are found in locations where corrosive chemicals are common, including laboratories and industrial areas. To use one, place the face over the eyewash and turn the water on. The water will spray the face and enter the eyes.
If the wound is painful, then applying a cold compress can also help (e. g. ice). Wet a clean washcloth with cool water and then place it over the wound to help cool and soothe it.
Seek medical attention right away if your burn is causing severe pain.
pale complexion fainting shallow breathing burn that covers a large area of skin, such as 3 inches (8cm) in diameter or more burn that is around the feet, face, eyes, hands, groin, buttocks, or a major joint
If your burn is serious and you are taken to a hospital before you can call the poison control center, you should make sure that you have someone at the hospital call so you can find out how to proceed. The doctor will know the basics of how to treat your burn, but the poison control center can give you a more specific idea. This information is invaluable as some compounds may need to be left open to air while others require an occlusive dressing. [9] X Research source R Palaoro, I Monge, M Ruiz, et al Chemical Burns Pathophysiology and Treatment, Burns May 2010 Vol 36 (3), 396-364
Your wound will then be covered with Silvadene cream using a tongue blade. They will then cover the wound with a 4 x 4 gauze pad, which will be applied over your wound to protect the site or the burn. Another rolled gauze will be wrapped around the wound site. [11] X Research source Emillia C Lloyd, Michael Michner, and Michael Williams, Outpatient Burns American Family Phyisian, Jan 2012, 85(1) 25-32
Eye chemical burns from acids or alkalis require emergency care and treatment. Otherwise, you risk permanent vision loss. For an ocular burn, you may be sent to an ophthalmologist so they can do a visual acuity test, which is where she will assess the damage to your eyes. Some studies indicated good results with copious irrigation with acidic ocular burns. The use of steroid eye drops, vitamin C eye drops, and antibiotic eye drops were used to help treat the eyes. [13] X Research source Harminer S Dua, Anthony J King, and Annie Joseph, A New Update for Ocular Burns, British Journal of Opthamology 2001, 85, 1379-1383
Follow up with your primary care provider or a toxicologist if necessary. Some toxic agents can be absorbed through the skin and can cause systemic toxicity. Inhaled vapors can cause both systemic toxicity and lung problems, such as asthma. Some inhaled substances can even be fatal. [15] X Trustworthy Source American Lung Association Nonprofit health organization dedicated to improving lung health through education, advocacy, and research Go to source If you are a diabetic, are on steroids or chemotherapy, or have a weakened immune system for any reason, you are at risk for infection and ought to be especially careful for signs of infection. You should recheck your wound daily as well as wash and change the dressing. Your skin should start to peel and regrow new skin within 10-14 days, depending on the kind of burn. [16] X Research source Emillia C Lloyd, Michael Michner, and Michael Williams, Outpatient Burns American Family Phyisian, Jan 2012, 85(1) 25-32
Despite the reputation of acids, acidic burns, such as those caused by hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, are less toxic. [18] X Research source R Palaoro, I Monge, M Ruiz, et al Chemical Burns Pathophysiology and Treatment, Burns May 2010 Vol 36 (3), 396-364
You may also experience a deep second degree burn. With this burn, you destroy even more of the under layer of dermis. It will no longer be red but will appear white, which shows that there has been damage to your blood vessels that is impairing circulation. It will not hurt because the nerves are also damaged so you cannot feel pain. There may or may not be blisters. Healing will occur but it will take longer than two weeks and will likely scar. If you have a deep second degree chemical burn over a joint, the scar could affect your ability to move the extremity it is connected to. [20] X Research source Ziyad Alharbi, Andrezj Pialkowski, Rolf Dembiaski, et al Treatment of Bun in the First 24 Hours: A Simple And Practical Guide by Answering Ten Simple Questions In A Step By Step Form, Review 2012 World Journal of Emergency Surgery, 7:13 doi 10 1186/1749 7922-7-13.
You will likely undergo a debridement or have skin grafts. [22] X Research source Ziyad Alharbi, Andrezj Pialkowski, Rolf Dembiaski, et al Treatment of Bun in the First 24 Hours: A Simple And Practical Guide by Answering Ten Simple Questions In A Step By Step Form, Review 2012 World Journal of Emergency Surgery, 7:13 doi 10 1186/1749 7922-7-13.
