Blisters after a burn: how to treat and what to treat with

Many people have encountered the problem of skin burns at least once in their lives. Most often, this happens at home in the kitchen after contact with a hot stove, oven, steam from boiling liquid, or a hot iron while ironing. If this only results in redness, then the burn is not severe, 1st degree, and will go away on its own in 2-3 days. If blisters form, this indicates a more serious skin lesion - a 2nd degree burn, which, if the affected area is small, can heal on its own in 10-12 days, otherwise it requires treatment.

[ 1 ]

Causes of a blister after a burn

The cause of the formation of a blister after a burn is damage to the keratinized epithelium up to the germ layer, which results in its exfoliation. In general, the effects that lead to the formation of blisters can be classified as follows:

• thermal (high temperature);
• chemical (acids, chemicals, alkalis);
• electrical (electric current);
• radiant (sun).

[ 2 ]

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of burns consists of pathological changes in skin tissues corresponding to second-degree burns with reddening of the affected areas and the appearance of small blisters. They are a local process, their healing depends on the time since the injury, the presence of a secondary infection, etc.

When blisters open, a red, erosive surface without skin is exposed. As a rule, such burns heal in 1-2 weeks, leaving no scars. Healing occurs under the scab, i.e. first, fluid is released (exudation), then the skin tissue regenerates, forming a rougher structure - a scab, which gradually comes off, the epithelialization phase begins. When blisters become infected, instead of the first phase, a purulent-necrotic phase occurs, the elimination of which is a long process.

After the infection has cleared, the granulation stage occurs – the formation of new cells. At this stage, care must be taken to avoid re-infection and not to return to the purulent-necrotic stage. If everything goes well, the granulation tissue will be replaced by epithelium. When burn wounds become infected, a scar is formed.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ]

Symptoms of a blister after a burn

Symptoms of a blister after a burn include reddening of the skin due to the flow of blood to the affected area (hyperamia), swelling, burning pain at the site of the lesion, and after a few hours, the appearance of blisters filled with a yellowish, transparent serous fluid.

[ 9 ]

Blister after a burn in a child

Burns in children are quite common. It can be difficult to keep an eye on fidgets at home. They are very at risk from the proximity of heating devices, switched-on irons, hot dishes left in careless reach, electrical outlets without plugs, and prolonged exposure to the sun. If contact with a thermal source only results in redness, this is a favorable outcome, but if blisters appear, emergency measures must be taken.

With the same degree of burns, children suffer much more damage than adults, and they are more difficult to treat. Even minor injuries can lead to burn shock. In case of major damage, the child's life is at risk. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately contact a doctor and provide first aid at home. Such measures include eliminating contact with the source that caused the burn, removing clothing around the lesion, cooling it with cold running water, and possibly anesthesia.

[ 10 ], [ 11 ]

Complications and consequences

Second-degree burns, which are characterized by the appearance of blisters, are superficial, so they often do not leave scars. Unpleasant consequences and complications of burns are associated with infection in the wound. Bacteria can penetrate through a burst blister or through the sebaceous and sweat glands. Having received burns, a person loses immunity, microbes multiply rapidly, an inflammatory, purulent process breaks out. In this case, the area of redness increases, swelling appears, and the temperature may rise. You cannot do without the help of a doctor, healing can slow down up to six months.

A severe complication is the development of burn disease. It can occur with second-degree burns if the area of damage is more than 10% in children and exceeds 20% of the surface in adults. The trigger for this is the loss of blood plasma, the effect of tissue decay products on the body, which have a detrimental effect on the kidneys, causing their failure.

[ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ]

Diagnostics of a blister after a burn

The task of diagnosing a blister after a burn is to determine the thermal agent, the area of damage, localization, and depth. Deep damage is not typical for second-degree burns. To determine the area, the so-called rule of nines is most often used, according to which each part of the body has a certain percentage. For example, the head and neck, arm, shin, thigh are each equal to 9% of the body, the perineum - 1%, the front and back of the body - 18% each, etc. The diagnosis contains a fraction, the numerator of which is the total area of damage as a percentage, the area of deep damage in brackets next to it, the degree of the burn in the denominator, and the affected part of the body is indicated. These parameters are necessary to assess the severity of the injury, the need for hospitalization, the choice of suitable transport for transportation, and the tactics of prehospital treatment. If the burn wound becomes infected, the temperature rises, a blood test shows an increased content of leukocytes (more than 8 thousand).

[ 16 ], [ 17 ], [ 18 ]

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics involves testing. Thus, a pain test, which consists of touching the surface of the burn, helps to determine its depth: with deep burns, the pain is not sensitive, with superficial burns it hurts. The "hair" test is also carried out for the same purpose. Pulling out a hair with shallow damage is accompanied by pain. This test is most indicative for burns with boiling water and steam.

Treatment of a blister after a burn

What to do if a blister forms after a burn? Treatment should begin with local treatment measures: stopping contact with the aggressive factor, removing foreign bodies, clothing from the damaged surface, cooling with ice or running water, pain relief. It is better to relieve pain with small doses of painkillers, but often. If the damage is on the limbs, it is better to keep them elevated. The skin around the burn is treated with an antiseptic. The main task at this stage is to prevent infection, improve local blood circulation, and establish metabolic processes. Special aerosols, ointments, solutions, hydrophobic coatings with paraffin and wax help in the treatment of a blister after a burn. If the burn area exceeds the size of the palm of the hand or the area of the face, neck, groin is affected, after the first emergency measures it is necessary to contact a medical institution.

Can you pop a burn blister?

If it is small, it is better not to touch it. A large blister can be punctured with a disinfected sharp object or trimmed if you are sure of sterility, but in no case should you cut it off. The peeled skin protects the wound from infection.

Medicines

The first steps after a burn include treating the damaged area with medications: antiseptics and hypertonic solutions, such as saline. Antiseptics prevent the development of bacteria and microorganisms, and therefore the formation of suppuration. These include hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, silver nitrate, silver sulfadiazine, furacilin solution, etc. To relieve pain, you can use analgesics: ibuprofen, nurofen, citromon, citropak, ketonal, analgin, paracetamol, etc.

Nurofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. It is available for oral administration in the form of tablets, chewable tablets for children, capsules, suspension and syrup, for external use - in the form of ointment and gel. Oral daily dose of 0.2-0.8 g for 3-4 doses, externally - lubricate the site of injury 3-4 times a day. The drug is contraindicated in gastric ulcers, colitis, high blood pressure, heart failure, pregnancy in the 3rd trimester. Do not apply to an open wound. Possible side effects: nausea, vomiting, flatulence, inhibition of hematopoiesis, increased pressure, allergies.

How to treat blisters after a burn? To normalize tissues affected by a burn, special ointments, gels, solutions, aerosols are used: lincocel, levosin, procelan, nitacid, miramistin, olazol, panthenol, etc. The following ointments for blisters after a burn can be recommended:

Lincocel is available in ointments and gels. The active ingredient is the antibiotic lincomycin, which is responsible for the antimicrobial effect of the drug. It is used mainly for thermal burns. It is applied in a thin layer under a bandage once a day. Side effects rarely occur in the form of allergies. Contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to the drug.

Nitacid is an ointment for external use, a combination drug that contains an antibiotic, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Apply under a bandage 2-3 times a week. Contraindicated for children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people prone to allergies to the drug. Side effects in the form of skin rashes may occur. With prolonged use over large areas, headaches, difficulty breathing, nausea may occur.

Sprays for healing burn wounds are also successfully used.

Panthenol spray - apply once or twice a day to the area requiring treatment. In case of facial injuries, do not spray directly, first apply to the hand, and then cover the burn with foam. Using panthenol can cause skin irritation, itching. Pregnant and lactating women can use only as prescribed by a doctor, if the benefit outweighs the risk of harm to the child. Contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to the drug.

At the next stage of burn treatment, ointments are used that stimulate skin regeneration, restore metabolic mechanisms in skin tissue cells, and increase the strength of collagen fibers. These include methyluracil, bepanten, streptonitol, etc.

Bepanten ointment - applied to burned areas. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor depending on the complexity of the lesions. Side effects are possible such as skin rashes, itching. It has no contraindications for pregnant women and children. In rare cases, it causes allergic reactions.

To avoid damaging the newly formed epithelium during dressings, mesh hydrophobic coatings with paraffin and wax are used.

What to do if a blister bursts after a burn?

If the blister bursts after a burn, it is necessary to take all the above steps to avoid infection in the wound, and in no case cut off the skin that formed the blister. It will serve as a protective film against the penetration of bacteria. How to treat a burst blister after a burn? The algorithm of actions is the same: treatment with an antiseptic solution, pain relief, use of ointments, sprays. Do you need a bandage on a burst blister after a burn? Yes, it is better to bandage it. There is a new generation of special dressings that provide environmental humidity, removal of serous fluid and necrotic tissue, maintenance of a stable temperature, protection from external infections. Medicinal preparations (gels, ointments, sprays) are applied to these dressings, and their replacement is painless and can be done only once every two weeks. Granuflex, Aquasel, Merilex, Combixin, Diosep and others have proven themselves well.

Vitamins

To speed up the healing of a burn wound and strengthen your immunity, you need to take vitamins. For this, you will need vitamin C, which promotes the formation of collagen - a protein of the fibrous part of the scar. Vitamins D, A, and group B will also contribute to recovery. Vitamin E will help speed up healing. At first, it must be taken orally, and when the wound is tightening, you can use an ointment containing it to lubricate the burn surface.

Physiotherapy treatment

In case of minor injuries, physiotherapy methods are most likely not needed. In case of serious burns, they are a good method to speed up skin regeneration, improve blood supply to the affected areas of the body, relieve inflammation, relieve pain, and reduce scars. Physiotherapy methods such as ultraviolet radiation, electrical and ultrasound therapy, UHF, laser, magnetic therapy, darsonval, and aeroionotherapy are suitable for this.

Folk remedies

You can resort to folk treatment if you have received a minor injury as a result of a burn. In folk medicine recipes, you often come across the use of various oils and fats of animal origin. Official medicine is categorically against this. Therefore, in my recommendations, I will limit myself to oils of medicinal plants: fir, sea buckthorn, St. John's wort - lubricate the damaged surface with them several times a day. You can also apply a washed cabbage leaf, grated raw potatoes, grated carrots, make baths in a weak saline solution. Aloe, Kalanchoe - well-known plants that used to stand on almost every windowsill, but now, unfortunately, have been replaced by more fashionable ones. After plucking a leaf, you need to remove the top skin and expose the pulp, which will be in contact with the wound, fix it with a bandage. You can also use golden mustache in the same way. It is also recommended to use fresh urine to disinfect the wound.

[ 19 ], [ 20 ]

Herbal treatment

There are many herbs in nature that can be used for burns. For people who grew up "on the ground", the most popular remedy for various wounds is a plantain leaf. To find it, you just need to bend down and pick it, it is all around us. It should be washed well, applied to the wound and bandaged. Calendula has a reputation as a healing plant. From its tincture, combined with Vaseline (1:2), you can also make a potion for burns. After grinding burdock leaves in a meat grinder, you can use their pulp for lotions. In the same way, add honey to coppered rhubarb stems and apply to the damaged surface.

Homeopathy

For burns that cause blisters, homeopathic preparations such as cantharis, urnica urens, apis, rus tox, and sulfuricum acidum are used.

Cantharis - used for burns of any origin. The preparation is made from Spanish fly by grinding it into powder. It is used both for external use and internally, starting with the sixth, sometimes 12th dilution. For external use, a few drops of the preparation are diluted in water on the damaged surface.

Urnica urens is a remedy prepared from stinging nettle flowers. It is used to make poultices on the burn area. As they dry, they are moistened again. This preparation is most often used for boiling water burns with severe pain and itching. It significantly speeds up the healing time.

Apis is a preparation made from bee venom. When treating blisters from burns, an ointment with belladonna is used.

Rus tox is effective when an infection gets into a wound, suppuration. It is made from the plant toxicodendron and is used as a homeopathic dilution.

Sulfuricum acidum - used mainly for chemical burns, it is based on sulfuric acid. It is used in dilutions from 3 to 30.

All the listed homeopathic remedies have contraindications for hypersensitivity to the drug, are undesirable for pregnant and lactating women, small children. Side effects in the form of redness, burning, itching occur when they get on the skin in a concentrated state.

Surgical treatment

As a rule, second-degree burns, which are characterized by the appearance of blisters, do not cause deep damage to the dermis, so they do not require surgical treatment. Blisters can simply be opened to speed up healing, to allow serous fluid to flow out.

Prevention

The best prevention of burns is to follow the rules of conduct with various electrical appliances, fire, boiling water, household and other chemicals. It is also necessary to limit the time spent in the sun. Adults need to feel responsible for children and spare no effort to protect them from dangerous contacts with the damaging agent.

[ 21 ], [ 22 ]

Forecast

The prognosis for treating blisters after a minor burn is favorable, healing takes up to two weeks. Extensive lesions cause burn disease, which entails pathologies of other organs and systems, reduces immunity. All this can have different outcomes, with a favorable outcome, the recovery time increases significantly.

[ 23 ]