Step-by-Step Guide to Burn Treatment with Advanced Wound Dressing

Burns are common injuries to the skin or tissues caused by high-temperature objects in daily life. They may not only trigger inflammatory reactions but can also lead to permanent skin damage in severe cases.

Effective burn care aims to swiftly restore skin integrity, protecting the vulnerable wound from external threats during recovery. Advanced wound dressings tailored to each case’s unique needs play a vital role in securing wounds and absorbing exudate to support the body’s repair processes. 

This guide outlines evaluating burn severity and applying the appropriate advanced wound dressings at each recovery stage to optimize outcomes for patients enduring this painful condition.

Burn Assessment and Grade Treatment

Effective burn management begins with an accurate assessment. Classifying injury severity according to depth and surface area affected helps choose advanced wound dressings. 

The following are various burn degrees and their unique clinical features:

1. First-degree Burns

This type of burn involves only the epidermis or the top layer of the skin. Common first-degree burns include mild peeling sunburns or short-contact cooking burns from hot surfaces that cause redness and pain but do not blister.

A. Clinical Performance

Signs include redness, slight swelling, and pain localized to the burn site. These burns are typically treated at home and heal within a few days without scarring.

B. Treatment Principle

The goals for managing first-degree burns include relieving pain and burning sensations at the wound site and preventing potential infection during the rapid recovery period.

C. Clinical Treatment

For wound cleaning, using normal saline or medical alcohol can disinfect and reduce patients’ burning sensation. Hydrogel impregnated gauze and pad solutions help relieve pain and protect the wound. 

Moreover, advanced wound dressings like Winner silicone foam lite dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, non-woven wound dressings, and transparent wound dressings with pads can help protect the sensitive wound and accelerate healing. If patients are still worried about leaving scars, they can also use Winner silicone scar repair sheet or silicone scar gel.

2. Superficial Second-degree Burns

These burns penetrate into the dermis or the second layer of skin. They cause blisters on the epidermis and are more painful.

A. Clinical Performance

Signs include blistering of the epidermis layer, serious pain, redness, and swelling. It usually takes approximately 10–14 days to heal. Mild to moderate scarring can result from damage to dermal skin layers.

B. Treatment Principle

Key priorities are preventing infection, protecting the forming new epidermal layer from trauma, and managing any exudate from the burn wound bed.

C. Clinical Treatment

Firstly, to clean, remove necrotic tissue, and disinfect the wound, gently wash with saline while taking care not to rupture blisters. Patients can also use Winner hydrogel wound dressings or PHMB skin and wound cleanser for wound protection and infection control.

Secondly, use protective burn wound care dressings such as Winner silicone foam lite dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, or transparent wound dressings with pads. They can not only provide a moist healing environment but also absorb a certain amount of exudate. 

Thirdly, scarring may be reduced by applying advanced wound dressings like Winner silicone scar repair sheet or silicone scar gel once fully healed.

3. Deep Second-degree Burns

Deep, partial-thickness burns penetrate into both epidermal and deeper dermal layers, presenting a serious injury risk.

A. Clinical Performance

Signs include deep damage to the skin layers below the epidermis. This type of burn needs skin grafting, which is a surgery that removes injured skin and replaces it with healthy skin from another body location. It can leave severe scars.

B. Treatment Principle

Priorities are controlling infection, protecting the burn wound to aid healing, and managing exudate well.

C. Clinical Treatment

Thorough and gentle cleaning is essential. Patients can use saline, hydrogel impregnated gauze, or PHMB skin and wound cleanser. It also helps remove necrotic tissue without further infection.