How Burns Heal?

Painful Skin Burns

Burns are a very painful wound that result in tissue damage when the skin is overexposed to scalding or fire, chemicals or radiation, direct electrical contact or even smoke alone.

The three most common types of burns are:

  • First degree
  • Second degree
  • Third degree

First Degree Burn

First degree are the most superficial and – while they hurt – can often be treated at home with a type of over-the-counter medication that can be purchased at a local pharmacy.

Second Degree Burn

Second degree burns will result in blistering and a thickening of the skin while third degree damage several layers of the dermis. There are also fourth degree that extend into the bones and tendons. If you have experienced a burn of any type, you should use your phone or computer to find the closest ‘urgent care near me’.

Physician Assistants and doctors will offer great advice on how to treat this condition. A first degree burn should be treated by running it under cool but not cold water for five minutes or more. It can be washed with soapy water and an antiseptic. Then cover it lightly with a clean non-adhesive gauze bandage. Use an over-the-counter pain medication to help keep the pain at a minimum. First degree may take up a week or so to heal. One example of it is is a sunburn. The top lay of the skin will turn white and peel off as new skin grows below. 

Second Degree Burn

Professionals at an urgent care Redford explain that second degree, and third-degree burns must receive medical attention. These are not the types of burns that can be treated at home. A second-degree will damage the top layer of the dermis and one or more layers below it. They will be treated with a variety of medical approaches. When a second-degree is healing it will turn into blisters that should not be touched. The blisters may pop and can cause further infection. While these burns are healing the skin may look and feel painful and ugly. 

Third Degree burns

Third degree burns are even more dangerous. That is because they have affected the same layers of skin as the second-degree – and then more They will require a hospital stay for part or all of the healing process. Third-degree are severe enough that the patient will need skin grafts. A skin graft is performed by removing skin from one part of the body to cover the area that has been severely burned.  For more information about Pain caused by burns, please click here.

Burns Treatment

Many new methods are being developed to help patients with third-degree burns. For example, treatments such as hydrogel and hydrocolloid dressings are applied over the wound to keep moisture and bacteria from entering the open area. These types of dressings are also meant to speed up the healing process – that will remain slow even so. Stronger pain medications are used for second and third degree burns because of the severity of the discomfort. 


If you are the victim of a burn remember to use your phone or computer to contact a ‘clinic near me’. To learn more about our urgent care services

Medcare Urgent Care in Redford, Michigan provides excellent medical care for burns. Our address is 26611 W 7 Mile Rd, Redford, MI 48240. Call (313) 300 2549