What should I do about the dead skin from a burn on my finger?

Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
Updated on September 26, 2024
00:00
00:00

Generally, after a finger is scalded, damage occurs to the skin's soft tissues, and some of the skin may necrotize. Once necrosis sets in, the blood supply to the affected area becomes poor. At this point, it is necessary for the body to promptly remove this dead skin. It is best to have debridement under the guidance of a physician to remove the necrotic skin and soft tissue; otherwise, these necrotic tissues can easily become infected, which in turn can cause harm to the body. Therefore, after necrosis occurs following a finger scald, it is advisable to immediately visit the emergency department of a hospital for debridement. Removing the necrotic tissue and performing proper dressing and disinfection will promote the rapid recovery and healing of the skin tissues.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
1min 2sec home-news-image

How to relieve pain after a burn?

Methods for pain relief after burns are as follows: First, rinse with running cool water until the pain subsides, then disinfect with iodine, which can also help relieve pain; Second, apply toothpaste or aloe vera on the surface of the burn to achieve anti-inflammatory, cooling, and pain-relieving effects; Third, medication treatment may involve taking pain relief pills orally, such as celecoxib, or intramuscular injections of ketorolac tromethamine or butorphanol tartrate for pain relief if necessary; Fourth, apply cold compresses. Before applying ice, wrap the burnt area with a sterile cloth to reduce the risk of frostbite and avoid worsening the condition; Fifth, consider localized blocking by injecting saline or alcohol around the painful area, which can serve a blocking function and help alleviate pain. (Note: Use medications under the guidance of a physician.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
37sec home-news-image

Why do burns on fingers blister?

After a finger is scalded, the high local temperature causes some damage underneath the skin, resulting in the skin oozing fluid. This fluid accumulates and forms blisters, so after a scald, the finger may develop a blister or several blisters. Once a blister has formed, try not to puncture it. It can be disinfected with iodine and allowed to absorb slowly on its own. Puncturing the blister might lead to infection, worsening the condition. Generally, after a finger is scalded and a blister forms, it suffices to disinfect the area. Of course, it is crucial to cool the finger quickly after the scald to minimize further damage.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
47sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
39sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
49sec home-news-image

How long will it take for a burn with broken skin on the finger to heal?

When a finger is scalded, local symptoms such as swelling, redness, heat, and pain—an inflammatory response—will occur. The patient will experience significant pain and a burning sensation. Under these circumstances, it is essential to clean the wound promptly to prevent infection. If there is broken skin, it needs to be disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, then rinsed with saline solution, followed by an application of iodine. It is important to keep the skin at the broken site dry and avoid contact with water and contaminants. With such treatment, the broken skin typically forms a scab within about a week. After another week, the skin in the affected area will heal and regenerate.