Burns

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Burn, Scalding?

A burn can be minor or it may be a life threatening emergency.
Pharmacist

Let's determine the type of burn you are looking at before we send you to a pharmacist for an over-the-counter recommendation or the nearest emergency room.



Burn on the hand

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Burn

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How bad is it?

Was this burn caused by a chemical?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • The chemical is still reacting with your skin.

Nearest ER

 

Was it caused by electricity?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Worse than you think.

ER

 

Did you inhale smoke with this burn?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Need complete medical evaluation.

Nearest ER

 

Is the burn forming blisters?
Pharmacist

 

 

Is the affected area about or larger than the size of your palm?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Need complete evaluation

Nearest ER

 

Does the burn look whitish?
Pharmacist

 

 

Does it look blackened or charred?
Pharmacist

 

 

Does it look deep into the tissues?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Sign of a third degree burn.

Nearest ER

 

Does the burn area feel numb to your touch?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible third degree burn.

Nearest ER

 

Would you say you are not sure how serious it is...

...but it looks pretty bad?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Don't tough it out.
  • It is going to get worse.

Nearest ER

 

Are there other symptoms with this burn?

Symptoms such as cuts, bleeding, headache, broken anything?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Things are worse than you think.

Nearest ER

 


Those were to rule out going to the emergency room.
Pharmacist

Now, let's see if it is something you can take care of yourself if you are convinced it does not require a visit to the emergency room.

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Burns

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Nature of burn

Meanwhile, run cool tap water on the burn area as soon as possible.
Pharmacist

You need to do this for an average of 20 minutes. This will take heat away from the affected area and reduce swelling.

You can do that while using this app to help you decide on the best course of action to take.

Do not apply ice or iced water to the burn. This may cause the blood vessels in the area to constrict and lead to the death of tissues surrounding the burn area or frostbite.

 

Is the burn area larger than 3 inches in diameter?

And you think this is a second degree burn?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • The skin surface area is too large for self-care measures.
  • Second degree burns in an area larger than 3 inches in diameter require urgent medical care.

Nearest ER

 

Is the burn area bleeding?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • You can't stop the bleeding yourself. Don't even waste your time trying.

Nearest ER

 

Is the affected area swelling or very swollen?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Need to prevent or treat infection.

Nearest ER

 

Is the burn area patchy white-to-red?

And very painful?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Looking at second degree burn or partial thickness burn.

Nearest ER

 

Is the affected area on the face?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • You don't want to risk scarring.

Nearest ER

 

Is it on the groin?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?

Seek urgent care

 

Is the burn on the feet?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • There is a high chance it would get infected
  • It is going to swell up pretty bad.

Nearest ER

 

Is this burn on a major joint?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Joint movement would make it difficult to heal.
  • Need professional dressing.

Nearest ER

 

Are you diabetic or immune compromised?

Or elderly?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Don't even think about self care.

Nearest ER

 

Now, did you have this burn about 2 days ago and you are still feeling pain?
Pharmacist

 

Nearest Clinic

 

Was this burn a few days ago and the area is still red?

Still swollen?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Looking at signs of infection.

Nearest Clinic

 

Was this burn a few days ago and the area is draining?

Forming pus?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Looking at infection.

Nearest Clinic

 

Did this burn occur a few days ago and you are feeling feverish?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • May be looking at a possible infection that your body is fighting.

Nearest Clinic

 

Finally, was this burn a few days ago and now you are seeing red streaks spreading from the burn?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Signs of a possible infection.

Nearest Clinic

 


We tried to rule out second degree burns that require urgent care.
Pharmacist

You may be looking at First degree burn if none of the questions have applied to you so far.

But let's be sure it is what you are looking at.

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Know this

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Self care?

In the case of a first degree burn, only the outer layer of skin called the epidermis is affected.
Pharmacist

This outer layer hasn't been burned through. If this is the case, you can take care of it with selfcare.
Let's continue and see what we've got.

 

If it just happened, is the area red and swollen a bit?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?

 

 

Once again any blistering?
Pharmacist

 

Nearest Clinic

 

It should be dry and painful. Is it?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Remember, if you are not sure how serious it is, go to the nearest urgent care clinic or emergency room.

Nearest Clinic

 

Can you dress it up yourself or do you have someone to help you do it?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • These are the places that will dress up the wound for you professionally.

Nearest Clinic

 

Alright, let's see what to use over the counter for this burn.
Pharmacist

Remember, if you are not sure how serious it is, go to the nearest urgent care clinic or emergency room.

The effect of the burn is still going on and it is going to get worse until the skin finish reacting to the burn.

Would you like to see what a pharmacist recommend over-the-counter to take care of this burn or go to the nearest urgent care clinic to you?

Urgent Care Pharmacist