Scald

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
1min home-news-image

Why does a burn from hot oil itch?

After being scalded by oil and experiencing itchy sensations, there are several scenarios: First, after the acute phase of an oil burn, if there is no local infection, the patient may feel itching in the burned area. This sensation is caused by the proliferation and repair of new epidermal tissue, which is a normal occurrence. The patient should not worry, but it is important to remember not to scratch the area to prevent local infection and rupture of the skin tissue, which could delay the healing of the wound; The second scenario occurs when there is an infection in the burn. The patient will also feel itching in the affected area, and they should go to the hospital promptly for local debridement and disinfection; The third scenario occurs when the wound heals but leaves a scar, which can also cause itching. In this case, scar treatment medications can be applied for treatment.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
39sec home-news-image

Can I drink alcohol if my finger is scalded?

Burns on the fingers are not directly related to drinking alcohol, so it is still possible to drink a small amount of alcohol after burning your fingers. However, from a health perspective, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol. The primary concern with finger burns is the treatment of the burns: frequent disinfection and dressing changes are necessary to protect the burn site and prevent infection. Additionally, it is beneficial for the recovery of the soft tissue to minimize the movement of the burned fingers. Moving the burned fingers might lead to tearing of the soft tissues and bleeding, which can prolong the recovery time of the burn.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
51sec home-news-image

Can I eat lamb after a burn?

Whether a burn patient can eat mutton mainly depends on the severity of the patient's condition. It is best not to eat mutton because mutton is quite pungent and is considered a hot-natured food. Eating such food after being burned is not conducive to the recovery of the burn and can make the burn more severe, easily causing local wound infection and inflammation. Apart from mutton, spicy and stimulating foods are also not recommended, such as raw onions, raw garlic, chili peppers, Sichuan peppers, leeks, fish, shrimp, beef, and dog meat. Patients should also avoid smoking and alcohol, and it is better for them to have a bland diet, which can promote metabolism and facilitate the recovery from burns.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
59sec home-news-image

Do you need to bandage after a burn?

Whether bandaging is needed depends on the severity of the burn. Generally, if it's just simple redness, no bandaging is needed. After the local skin is scalded, if blisters form, it is considered a superficial second-degree burn. You can first rinse with cold water or soak in cold water for more than half an hour, or apply ice to reduce the pain. Before bandaging, clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide, then disinfect the wound surface with iodine, release the water inside the blister while keeping the blister skin, then apply burn ointment on the gauze, cover the wound surface, and then use multiple layers of dry gauze for bandaging. Generally, change the dressing every three days, and recovery can occur within two weeks, leaving no scars later. Patients should maintain a light diet, eat fresh vegetables and fruits, avoid spicy and stimulating food, and abstain from alcohol.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
59sec home-news-image

How to treat a burn from hot oil

After being scalded by hot oil, quickly wipe off the hot oil with a clean cloth and rinse the affected area with plenty of cold water or running tap water for more than half an hour, or until the pain eases. Then disinfect with iodine. If blisters occur after the burn and they are small and few, apply a moisturizing burn ointment locally to promote healing at the burn site. Generally, small blisters can absorb on their own. For larger blisters, use a sterile syringe to puncture the blister at its base and squeeze out the fluid, but keep the blister skin intact to maintain a sterile environment on the wound surface, and apply a burn moisturizing cream. If the epidermis is broken, seek treatment at a regular hospital. After a burn, it is advised to eat fresh vegetables and fruits to promote wound healing, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and keep the wound dry to prevent infection.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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How to deal with blisters from a burn when there is no burn ointment available

After a burn causes blisters, it indicates that the burn is quite severe. If you don’t have burn ointment, there are two other methods that can be adopted. The first method is applicable if the blister is small and contains little fluid. You can protect the blister from infection by thoroughly disinfecting the area and then covering it with sterile gauze to wait for the blister to be absorbed. If the blister is large and filled with significant fluid, you can use a needle to drain it or make a small incision at its lowest point to let the fluid out. Then, thoroughly disinfect the area and cover it with a sterile gauze pad. You can wait for the fluid to be absorbed as much as possible while preventing infection. Avoid contacting the burn with water to protect the area and prevent secondary infection.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
35sec home-news-image

What should I do if my finger is numb from a burn?

Numbness in a finger after a burn suggests a severe injury, likely affecting below the dermis and damaging nerves, leading to abnormal sensations and numbness. After a finger is burned, it should be immediately rinsed with cold or running water for at least thirty minutes to cool the burn down. Then, proceed to a hospital for proper care, such as disinfection, wrapping with gauze for protection, and possibly applying burn ointment to promote recovery. Follow the doctor's instructions for daily dressing changes, and take antibiotics as prescribed to prevent and treat infections.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
1min 3sec home-news-image

What fruit is good to eat for burns?

After a burn, one should consume more high-calorie, high-protein foods that are easy to digest. It is also appropriate to eat more foods that are high in vitamin C content. This is because vitamin C can promote wound healing and prevent infection. Foods rich in vitamin C include kiwi, citrus, oranges, dates, grapes, etc. Besides vitamin C, zinc also promotes wound healing, reduces scarring, and prevents infection. Foods rich in zinc include kelp, sesame, pork liver, oysters, shrimp shells, seaweed, legumes, etc. Avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and refrain from smoking, alcohol, strong tea, and coffee, especially peppers, onions, and pepper powder. This can effectively prevent wound infection and promote wound healing, killing two birds with one stone.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
47sec home-news-image

How to deal with burns that have broken the skin?

After a burn that breaks the skin, you can first assess the size of the burned area. For small burns, promptly rinse with cold water for about 20 minutes, or apply a cold compress to the affected area. Then, disinfect and clean the burn site with povidone-iodine, keeping the wound exposed to promote healing. If the burn is extensive, affecting the superficial dermis and reaching shallow second-degree or higher burns, after addressing the site, sterile dressings and treatments such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory are necessary. Therefore, after the initial simple treatment, it’s crucial to seek professional medical treatment at a hospital promptly.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
59sec home-news-image

How to treat baby's burns with blisters

If the burn has just occurred, first ensure the baby is quickly removed from the heat source, and soak the affected area in running tap water or cold water for over half an hour. Alternatively, a cold towel can be used to moisten and cover the wound, which can reduce the thermal damage to the burn area and minimize the formation of weeping wounds. If the blistered area is small, a moisturizing burn ointment can be applied. If there are small blisters, they may be left untreated, but do not break them; this maintains a sterile environment and allows the blister to absorb slowly. However, if it is a large burn area, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention at a nearby burn unit for proper dressing and treatment of the burn. Additionally, care should be taken to avoid squeezing the burned area and to prevent the wound from getting wet.