How to deal with peeling skin after a finger burn?

Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
Updated on September 04, 2024
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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.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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Can you drink alcohol after being scalded by oil?

After being scalded by oil, one should not drink alcohol, as alcohol can accelerate local blood circulation at the burn site, thereby worsening local congestion, swelling, and pain, and also prolonging the healing time of the wound. Therefore, after being scalded by oil, it is not advisable to consume beer, spirits, fruit wines, or yellow wine. Patients also need to be mindful of their diet and avoid consuming spicy foods such as raw onions, raw garlic, chili peppers, and leeks, which, like alcohol, can cause an increase in local congestion, swelling, and pain.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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Will a burn leave a scar?

Whether burns leave scars depends on the severity of the burn and whether emergency measures were taken after the burn. Clinically, burns can be divided into three degrees. A first-degree burn, which is mild, generally shows symptoms such as stinging pain, mild swelling, and erythema. With timely soaking in cold water, rinsing, and application of burn medicine, scars are not left. For deeper second-degree and third-degree burns that involve the dermis, there is a possibility of scarring. At this point, the skin at the affected area may show necrosis, and local healing may be delayed. Therefore, actively treating the burn immediately after it occurs, preventing infection, and quicker wound healing can reduce the likelihood of scarring.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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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 Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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What should not be eaten when a finger is scalded?

It is advised not to eat spicy and irritating foods for burns on fingers, and to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. It is recommended to drink more water regularly, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, supplement vitamins, and eat foods high in protein and energy that are easy to digest. Enhancing nutrition can promote the recovery and improvement of burn tissues. Concurrently, it is necessary to engage in relevant targeted treatments such as medication changes, anti-infection measures, and gauze protection. It is also advised to reduce the activity of the affected limb to avoid worsening the injury.

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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.