Scald

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Written by Zhang Ying Ying
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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How to treat burns from cupping therapy

For minor cupping burns without blistering, apply local iodine for disinfection and keep the area dry. If there are small blisters, let the skin absorb them naturally, disinfect daily with iodine, and keep the blistered skin intact. If the blisters are larger, clean a needle to puncture them and release the fluid, then keep the area dry and disinfect daily with iodine. If the patient has diabetes, or if the burn is severe or covers a large area, seek treatment at a burn clinic.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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Can a burnt finger be wrapped up?

Burned fingers should not be wrapped up. A finger burn occurs when the skin and soft tissues of the finger are damaged by hot water, causing an inflammatory response, which can lead to symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain, and severe cases can cause necrosis of the skin and dermis. If wrapped up, the temperature of the burned finger cannot decrease, which might worsen the degree of the burn. Generally, after a finger burn, it is advisable to quickly soak or rinse the finger in cold or running water for at least about half an hour to lower the temperature of the finger. This can reduce the severity of the burn and thus protect the finger.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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Can a burnt finger heal?

Whether a burnt finger can heal depends on the severity of the burn; we cannot generalize. If the burn affects only the epidermis, it should heal quite well and can fully recover. However, if the burn reaches the dermis beneath the skin, healing can still occur but will take longer and may leave some complications and scarring. Scarring can restrict movement of the finger and affect its appearance. If the burn is very deep, below the dermis, and affects nerves and blood vessels, the healing capacity will be significantly reduced. Healing may be poor, affecting the function or mobility of the finger, leading to severe impairment similar to paralysis. In severe cases, amputation might be necessary.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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What should I do if my finger swells up from a burn?

After a finger burn, it should immediately be rinsed with cold or running water continuously for at least half an hour to cool down the damaged skin. Then, use iodine or alcohol to disinfect the area, followed by covering it with a dressing. If swelling occurs, cold packs with ice water can be applied. Alternatively, magnesium sulfate wet compresses or more traditional remedies, such as continually applying potato slices, can help reduce the swelling. However, these methods will require some time to take effect. The main goal is to alleviate symptoms through anti-inflammatory and pain relief treatments, allowing the inflammation of the soft tissues to subside gradually and the swelling to reduce.

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Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
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How to deal with a burn on the finger that has not broken the skin

After accidentally burning a finger, even if the skin isn't broken, it should be treated quickly to prevent further absorption of heat and further damage to the skin, soft tissue, and muscles. Many skin and soft tissue burns can appear after a period of time. The burned finger should be immediately rinsed with ice water or cold water, for about 20-30 minutes. If there are ice cubes available at home, they can be used to locally apply ice. This can quickly and effectively reduce the heat damage to the skin and soft tissues, improve the prognosis, shorten the course of treatment, and at the same time, attention should be paid to prevent infection.

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Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
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Why does a burn on the finger hurt so much?

After a finger is scalded, it can be extremely painful. This is related to the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the fingers. The limbs and fingers have a dense distribution of nerves, and when scalded or injured, the pain can be very pronounced, resulting in sharp and stabbing symptoms. After a finger is scalded, it is important to cool it down promptly to reduce the damage to the skin tissue. Depending on the condition, relevant medications should be used to prevent infection. Medications can also be used to reduce the symptoms of pain. If the pain is particularly severe, appropriate pain relief medication can be used (please use medications under the guidance of a doctor).

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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How to relieve pain from a finger burn that is red

Redness and pain have occurred in the finger due to a burn, indicating that the burn is not severe and has likely affected the epidermis and its terminal nerves, causing pain. First, to alleviate the pain, the burn can be immediately rinsed with cold water or running cold water for over half an hour. If pain relief is not significantly achieved by this method, oral pain relievers such as painkillers or celecoxib may be taken for pharmacological pain management, which should provide some relief. If oral medication is also ineffective, then it would be necessary to go to the hospital for muscle injection of pain-relief drugs. (Medication should be taken according to medical advice.)

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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How long will it take for a burn on the finger to ease the pain?

After a finger scald, how long it takes for the pain to alleviate depends on the severity of the burn, and the specific time cannot be confirmed. Generally, the pain caused by burns is mainly due to damage to the epidermis, which affects the peripheral nerves, leading to neuropathic pain. At the start of the burn, you can rinse with cold water for half an hour to appropriately alleviate the pain. However, this pain relief is only temporary, so you may need to take some medications to alleviate it, such as pain relievers or celecoxib, which might be effective. If the injury is deeper, affecting below the dermal layer and damaging the nerves, then there will be no pain, and there is no need to address the pain. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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What will happen if a burn on the finger is not treated?

The treatment of burns depends on the severity of the burn and cannot be generalized. For minor burns, such as when a finger is slightly red, indicating a mild burn, simply rinsing with water is adequate, and no special treatment is necessary. However, if the burn is more severe and has reached the dermis, it requires prompt attention. First, the area should be thoroughly rinsed with cold water for at least half an hour to quickly cool the area and alleviate the worsening of the condition. Additionally, it is crucial to seek further treatment at a hospital, where disinfection, bandaging, and possibly other examinations will be performed. If the burn is severe, treatments such as intravenous fluids and anti-infection measures may be necessary.

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Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
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How to deal with peeling skin after a finger burn?

After a finger is scalded and begins to peel, it is essential to immediately use ice water and cool water to rinse the area, which can be done for about half an hour. If there is ice available at home, you can use ice packs for local cold compresses. This can quickly lower the local temperature and reduce further damage to the skin, soft tissues, and muscles from the heat. On the other hand, you can use appropriate ointments to prevent infections that may occur after the local skin is damaged, while also incorporating comprehensive treatments such as fluid replenishment. If there is a worsening of the local infection, it is necessary to go to the hospital for further treatment.