When a burn blister is localized in an inconvenient place (arms, feet), many are tormented by the thought: is it possible to pierce a burn blister ? In some cases this is appropriate, but before doing this you definitely need to weigh the pros and cons again. A blister that appears after a burn protects the wound from possible contamination and the entry of bacteria into it; puncturing invariably provokes infection with subsequent suppuration.
Duration of healing of blisters
Often the blisters go away on their own within 10-14 days. But for such healing to occur, it is necessary to treat the problem area with prescribed specialized medications and avoid re-traumatization of the burn site. Sometimes the blisters disappear after a week, but this is only possible with a minor burn and with almost complete absence of damage in the lower layers of the epidermis.
In circumstances where the skin has deep damage, the blister can last for about a month, that is, as long as the therapy lasts. In addition, the healing of blisters may take longer in people with particularly sensitive skin, as well as in young children. But as a rule, in this case we are talking only about a few extra days.
A burn blister on the hand causes discomfort and interferes with work
Clinical researches
A clinical study conducted by the company together with the Union of Pediatricians of Russia proves the high efficiency, safety and tolerability of products for daily skin care of children with mild and moderate forms of atopic dermatitis and during remission, accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life of patients. As a result of therapy, a decrease in the activity of the inflammatory process, a decrease in dryness, itching and flaking was noted.
It has been proven that La Cree cream for sensitive skin reduces itching and irritation, relieves redness of the skin, moisturizes and gently cares for it. The product is recommended by the Union of Pediatricians of Russia.
Sources:
- Kovyazina N.A., Fedosimova N.A., Illek Ya. Yu. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in young children, Vyatka Medical Bulletin, 2007
- Smirnova G.I. Managing the course of the disease: atopic dermatitis in children, Russian pediatric journal, 2014
- Dermatology: an illustrated guide to clinical diagnostics according to Professor A.N. Rodionov. / Rodionov A.N., Zaslavsky D.V., Sydikov A.A. Edited by Professor A.N. Rodionova.M.: Border. 2022.- 944 p.
Can burn blisters be punctured?
Of course, it is possible to pierce a burn blister, but this procedure actually has no advantages. In fact, if there is no risk of sudden damage to the integrity of the blister in non-sterile conditions, due to its location in an inconvenient place, then the question of whether to pierce a burn blister should not arise at all. There are many reasons why you should not pierce blisters from burns:
- you can get infected;
- provoke increased pain and swelling;
- due to the puncture of the bladder, the burn itself will take longer to heal;
- due to the ingress of pathogens and dirt, a purulent process will begin;
- in particularly serious cases, tissue necrosis is possible, which is quite difficult to stop.
Important: First aid and treatment for a fractured penis
So there are plenty of reasons why burn blisters should not be pierced, and before carrying out such a procedure, you need to weigh all the risks again.
It is worth noting that all of the above problems are possible both with an accidental burst of the bladder, and with an independent or medical puncture, if all precautions were not followed.
Dermatologist Natalia Sirmais has prepared an article about what first aid should be for a burn. Everyone needs to know these recommendations.
Burns are one of the most common injuries sustained at home. Burns can come from:
1. Temperature effects
2. Irradiation
3. Electricity
4. Chemicals
At home, the cause of a burn is usually: boiling water, an unsuccessfully left kettle, a plate of hot soup that a child’s hands have reached.
Of course, it is better to prevent such a development of events, but absurd accidents can happen to anyone. Shouting about “why didn’t you follow up” and “how could this happen” will not help matters. It is better to always be fully prepared and know the algorithm of action if an unpleasant situation does occur.
It is important to avoid panic and take action immediately. The depth and area of the lesion, and later the recovery time, depend on the speed with which assistance is provided.
Burns are divided into 4 degrees, but the 4th degree of damage from boiling water is very rare.
- With grade 1 lesions, only the upper layers of the skin are damaged, accompanied by redness and slight swelling.
- Stage 2 is characterized by the appearance of blisters filled with cloudy liquid. Severe pain often occurs. If first aid is provided promptly and correctly, scars and other skin changes can be avoided.
- In grade 3 injuries, red wounds are visible, dead tissue appears as gray or dark scabs, and both skin and muscle tissue are affected. The blisters are filled with bloody or cloudy contents, the person experiences severe pain, and shock may develop. In this situation, hospital treatment is required.
- The 4th degree is accompanied by deep damage to the skin, muscle tissue and even bones (even with their charring). This is an extremely serious condition. Immediate hospitalization is required.
What is prohibited to do:
1. Immediately after a burn, apply oils, fats and ointments to the skin. A greenhouse effect may occur: excess heat will not be able to leave the skin, thereby increasing the affected area, even to the point of tissue infection.
2. Treat with solutions containing alcohol. This will increase the pain and lead to the death of some of the damaged cells.
3. Cool the burn with ice. This will cause frostbite and tissue death rather than cooling.
4. Puncture blisters. This can cause infection in the wound. Small blisters do not require puncture, since they contain a sterile liquid inside, which does not allow infection into the wound.
5. Sprinkle with flour/starch, apply grated potatoes, compresses with urine, smear with kefir/sour cream, use toothpaste or raw eggs. Such methods will not help with a burn, but can easily cause harm.
6. Trying to tear off clothing or other materials that are stuck to the skin - this can lead to the removal of skin as well.
In what cases is an ambulance/visit to a doctor required:
1. If a child or an elderly person is injured, and the burn area is larger than the palm of an adult.
2. If the damage is deep, burns are 3-4 degrees, regardless of area.
3. If large bubbles appear.
4. For burns of the face, eyes, and perineal area.
5. If signs of tissue infection appear
6. If you lack the skills and strength, provide assistance for these injuries.
- So, let's move on to the stages of providing first aid:
1. Take off your clothes. Don't waste time, tear or cut the fabric. If it sticks to the skin, do not try to peel it off. Avoid bubbles if there are any.
2. Place the affected area under medium pressure of cold tap water. If possible, refill the container if the foot or hand is affected. This will help reduce pain and relieve swelling, cool the damaged areas and tissue around the lesion.
If the skin is severely damaged, if it is peeling, you need to cool it through a wet cloth, this will reduce the pain from direct contact with water.
Cool the skin for 10-15 minutes.
Please note that this is the most important help point! This method, despite its simplicity, can reduce the depth of the lesion by an entire degree (from the second degree to the first).
3. Starting from the second stage, it is necessary to give painkillers.
4. For a minor burn, after 15 minutes, blot the damaged area with a lint-free cloth, then apply a sterile non-woven bandage or cover the burn with a clean cotton cloth, if nothing else is available (do not press or rub, especially if there are blisters).
For 1st degree burns, a bandage may not be necessary, then apply aerosol foams (olazol/panthenol) more often, but first thoroughly cool the damaged area.
5. If indicated, consult a doctor. Remember that qualified and timely provision of medical care contributes to a significant improvement in the victim’s condition, reduces/prevents the risks of infections, and also accelerates further recovery of the body.
When is it advisable to get a puncture?
It has been emphasized more than once that it is appropriate to puncture blisters only in extraordinary cases. Doctors often do not advise touching the burn area, but it makes sense to eliminate the bubble when it is localized in places subject to pressure or often comes into contact with other objects (shoes, clothing).
Therefore, it is possible to lance and remove fluid from a blister on the feet and hands, as this really makes life difficult for the victim. However, it is unacceptable to pierce a burn blister on your own and it is best to pierce it in a hospital setting or at a clinic doctor. Contacting a specialist will help minimize the likelihood of complications.
Complications
Even second-degree burns, if the affected area is quite extensive, can lead to serious complications. If the burns are 20% or more, dehydration of the body occurs - dehydration , which manifests itself in the form of thirst, decreased diuresis, dizziness and dry mucous membranes. The victim must be given water with added table salt (half a teaspoon per half liter of water) if he is not vomiting.
Another type of complication resulting from a second-degree burn when blisters appear is skin infection due to the blister rupturing or being punctured by an unsterile instrument. The appearance of scar tissue at the site of burns can occur regardless of the assistance provided, because this is associated with the formation of joint and tendon contractures.
Note! Burns lead to a decrease in the number of tissue macrophages due to a lack of fibronectin. As a result, local immunity decreases and the risk of developing a microbial infection at the burn site increases. Because of this, streptococcal or staphylococcal pyoderma often develops with a second-degree burn.
How to puncture a burn blister?
If the situation develops in such a way that it is not possible to avoid puncturing the blister, then it is important that the procedure is carried out in compliance with all precautions. To begin with, the area affected by the burn, as well as the skin around it, must be treated with an antiseptic (but not with alcohol-containing products).
It is also necessary to disinfect the needle with which you plan to make a puncture (it should be as thin as possible).
Before making a puncture, the skin must be thoroughly disinfected
Then you need to prepare several sterile bandages: one for the puncture procedure, and the second for subsequent dressing. The puncture of the bladder should be carried out at its base, applying a sterile bandage to this place (but not cotton wool, in order to avoid villi getting into the wound).
Providing first aid for different types of burns
Burns are the most common injuries at home and at work.
Depending on the type of damaging agent, its volume, time of exposure and area of damage, burns can be of varying severity. The article will tell you about first aid methods for various types of burns and what absolutely should not be done in case of such an injury. Types of burns:
- thermal - are the result of careless handling of fire, hot water and steam;
- chemical - can be caused by caustic alkalis, strong acid solutions and concentrated substances harmful to human health (chemical burn of the esophagus with vinegar belongs to this type);
- radiation – consequences of exposure to ultraviolet, ionizing and infrared radiation;
- electrical – tissue damage through exposure to electrical discharges on the body.
There is a certain classification of burns depending on the depth of tissue damage. According to it, the first two degrees (erythema stage and blistering stage) are considered mild, and the next two (skin necrosis stage and underlying tissue necrosis stage) are severe and refer to deep burns. Scars after a severe burn site has healed usually remain for life.
Burn Blister: Further Recommendations
Next, you should carefully press on the skin of the bladder and release all the serous cerebrospinal fluid. After this, you need to again treat the problem area with an antiseptic and prepare gauze bandages for everyday wear.
Important: Applying a burn patch
To apply the bandage correctly, you will need a disinfectant and ointment. The use of various creams and alternative medicine in this case should be excluded. If, instead of an ointment, some liquid preparation is used, then it is necessary to completely saturate the entire bandage, which is then applied to the affected area.
The ointment is applied directly to the area of the former bladder. This procedure is repeated three times a day. On top of that, it is important to ensure that the area of the former blister does not get wet and that nothing gets there.
After the procedure, a sterile gauze bandage must be applied to the affected area.
Burn blister: treatment of an opened neoplasm
When the question of whether it is necessary to pierce the burn was answered positively and then the corresponding procedure was carried out, then in the future it is necessary to change the gauze bandage at least once a day if an antiseptic solution is used in the treatment and about 3 times a day if a bactericidal healing ointment was chosen for treatment .
Despite the use of sterile materials for dressings, pathogenic microorganisms will accumulate on it during the healing of the burn. If the dressing is not replaced in a timely manner, it becomes an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria, which slow down the healing process.
When, after opening the blister, it begins to bleed, then chlorhexidine and similar medications should be preferred to treat the wound. In other cases, ointment is still preferable. The following drugs have proven themselves quite well:
- Baneocin;
- Bepanten;
- Dexpanthenol;
- Ichthyol;
- Eplan;
- Calendula ointment.
Bepanten cream accelerates the healing of burns
Burn Blister: Other Tips
Before applying these products, you should thoroughly wash and treat your hands with antiseptic. Ointments are applied three times a day, at approximately equal intervals. In circumstances where particles of tissue or traces of dirt were noticed in the wound, it should be washed with chlorhexidine before applying the ointment. Of course, whether it is possible to pierce a burn bladder or not, everyone decides for themselves.
But if a person decides to do this, then he must first take care of purchasing antibacterial agents, healing ointments and sterile materials for dressing. However, if negative consequences are noted after the puncture, then you should not delay a visit to the surgeon, so as not to give a chance to develop suppuration or, even worse, tissue necrosis.
Alternative medicine
Traditional healers do not always provide methods that are safe for treatment, so before starting your recovery, consult your doctor.
Popular recipes:
- compresses with mashed potatoes (it is not advisable to add onions);
- aloe and Kalanchoe juice as antibacterial agents;
- special clay (sold in any pharmacy), used in the form of applications.
