Burns are a common childhood injury. Your child could get burned from the sun, touching the stove or an accidental spill of hot liquids, such as steaming-hot coffee or tea. It is important to follow these four tips to help your child fully recover after a serious burn.
Get Initial Burn Treatment
Receiving medical care immediately after a burn helps your child to set foot on the road to recovery. The initial care for a burn depends on its severity. Even a first-degree burn on a young child could be harmful to his or her health, which is why an initial assessment is needed. Doctors may apply an antibiotic ointment, clean the wound if needed and apply a dressing in order to begin the healing process.
Follow Discharge Instructions
It is important to follow your child’s discharge instructions after an initial visit for a serious burn. You may be directed to change the dressing a certain number of times per day. Avoiding getting the area wet helps to reduce the risk of infection. Your child’s skin may also need an antibiotic cream for a few weeks. This helps to get rid of bacteria that could infiltrate into your child’s body without the protective outer layer skin to stop them.
Take Your Child to a Dermatology Clinic
Taking your child to a dermatology clinic is another important step in the recovery process. Dermatologists, like those at Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists of Moreno Valley, specialize in burn care. Dermatology clinics may advise you on skin grafts or other treatments to help your child fully recover from a serious burn. They might also advise you on using sunscreen to prevent sunburns to the burned, delicate skin.
Reduce Scarring to the Burned Skin
Once your child has grown a new layer of skin around the burn, the dermatologist might advise you on what to do in order to reduce scarring. One common over-the-counter treatment is to apply vitamin E oil to the wound. Vitamin E helps to moisturize damaged skin. Aloe and other topical creams might reduce your child’s discomfort as new skin grows in the place where the burn occurred. Ask the dermatologist before using anything on your child’s skin.
Burns could take several months and many doctor’s visits to heal. It is important to monitor your child’s health and watch for any signs of infections or illnesses while he or she recovers from the burn. Following the dermatology clinic’s recommendations will help to minimize scarring, scar tissue and other complications.
