Mild Burns

While nearly 700,000 burn-related health insurance claims are reported yearly in the United States, not everyone sees a doctor for mild burns. But to optimize healing and minimize the risk of scarring, turn to VIP Wound, with offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Holly Springs, Mississippi. Their wound care specialists treat minor burns and burn wounds to maximize your skin’s health. Schedule an evaluation by calling the nearest office today.

What are mild burns?

Mild burns are minor skin injuries caused by cold or hot temperatures, chemicals, radiation, friction, or electrical injuries. Minor burns often heal on their own over time, but sometimes complications or scarring develop when they’re not treated effectively. If you or a loved one has a burn and you’re not sure if it needs medical attention, see the experts at VIP Wound.

What are the symptoms of mild burns?

Mild burns can cause:

• Pain
• Burning sensation
• Redness
• Swelling

First-degree burns only affect your top skin layer; second-degree burns are usually more painful, blister, and can become open wounds.

What should I do after suffering a mild burn?

Stay calm if you or a family member suffers a minor burn. Place the burned skin under cool running water for 10-15 minutes to cool the area and lessen discomfort; or place a clean, wet cloth on the burned area or soak a minor burn in a cool water bath.

Keep the burned area clean and monitor your burn. Call the VIP Wound office if you think it could be more than a minor injury, your burn becomes infected, or it isn’t healing correctly.

How are mild burns diagnosed?

Diagnosing mild burns or burn wounds at VIP Wound involves discussing your symptoms, reviewing your medical history, and completing a physical exam to evaluate burned tissues. Your provider might take a wound biopsy or order blood tests or imaging procedures to confirm the type of burn you have and how to best treat it.

Signs of an infection include increasing pain, oozing pus, redness, swelling, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.

How are mild burns treated?

Mild burns can take three weeks to heal. Keep the area clean and avoid scratching it. Your VIP Wound specialist might recommend the following burn treatments, especially if a minor burn turns into an open wound:

• Wound cleaning
• Debridement (removal of infected and dead tissue)
• Specialized medical bandages or dressings
• Oral, injected, or topical medicines
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
• Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)
• In-office dressing changes
• Wound care education
• Compression therapy
• Specialized footwear
• Off-loading
• Skin grafts
• Surgery
• Combinations of wound care treatments

Follow your burn-care instructions at home, eat nutritious foods, avoid smoking, and contact the VIP Wound office anytime you have questions or develop new symptoms.

Schedule an evaluation for a mild burn at VIP Wound by calling the nearest office today.