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

Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
Updated on September 25, 2024
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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.

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What should I do if I have an esophageal burn?

Esophageal burns are a common and frequently occurring condition caused by consuming food or for other reasons where the temperature is too high, which damages the mucous membrane of the esophagus. At that time, one should immediately stop eating to reduce harm to the body. For mild cases, one can orally take egg whites or milk to protect the injured esophageal mucosa. Severe cases need to go to the hospital for medical treatment, take gastric mucosal protectants to prevent the formation of esophageal mucosal scars, prevent esophageal stricture, and at the same time, receive intravenous fluids, enhance nutritional support, supplement necessary vitamins, and can also use some drugs that promote the recovery of the esophageal mucosa, minimizing the damage of esophageal burns to the body.

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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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Is it useful to apply toothpaste on a burnt finger?

Applying toothpaste to a burn on the finger does not effectively alleviate the condition, nor does it effectively reduce damage to the skin, soft tissues, and muscles. Instead, it is advisable to promptly rinse the burned finger with ice water or cool water repeatedly for about 20 to 30 minutes. If there are ice cubes available at home, they can be used to apply ice packs to the burned area. This can quickly and effectively lower the local skin temperature, reduce the absorption of heat, and minimize damage to the human skin, muscles, and soft tissues. If the condition worsens, it is more appropriate to timely seek medical treatment at a hospital.

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What should I do if I get a burn on my face?

If a burn occurs on the face, first rinse the burned area with running tap water or immerse the burned part of the face in a basin of tap water to promptly reduce the temperature of the burn site and lessen heat damage to the deeper tissues. Be sure the water is not too cold and generally rinse or soak for about 30 minutes, until the pain at the wound site significantly eases, and then rinsing or soaking may be discontinued. After rinsing or soaking in cool water, observe the burned area. If the burn site is slightly purple and red, you can apply some burn ointment at home. If there are obvious blisters or the skin is broken, protect the burn site with a clean towel and go to the nearest hospital burn department for professional medical treatment quickly. Be sure to protect the blisters on the burn site to avoid bursting them.

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What should I do if it keeps burning after a scald?

After a burn, if there is persistent burning pain, you can first rinse with running cold water until the pain eases. Then apply toothpaste, aloe, or camphor oil on the surface of the burn to cool and relieve pain, alleviating symptoms. If necessary, cover the burned area with a sterile gauze and then apply ice. This can help relieve pain. If needed, pain relief medication such as painkillers or celecoxib can be taken orally. If the pain is severe, you can also go to the hospital for an intramuscular injection of dexamethasone or butorphanol to relieve symptoms. Also, pay attention to diet; avoid spicy, stimulating foods and foods that cause inflammation. Drink plenty of water and eat fresh vegetables and fruits. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)