OVERVIEW
Burn injuries can be painful and scary. Every year, millions of people get medical treatment for burns. We will give you the information you need to handle burn injuries quickly and safely.
MyInstantMD provides fast virtual consultations with certified doctors for minor burn patients. You can get personalized treatment plans now through our user-friendly platform.
Available in 50 states. No insurance needed.
What is a Burn?
There are essentially three classification of burned skin:
First degree burns only affect the top outer layer (epidermis) of the skin. Symptoms of a first degree burn include pain, redness and swelling.
A second degree burn, also known as a partial thickness burn, affects both the top layer (epidermis) and the underlying layers (dermis) of the skins. This can cause redness, blisters, swelling, pain, as well as white, shiny or splotchy skin discolorations.
Third degree burns, also known as a full-thickness burn, are deep burns that affect the deep layers of the skin. It can also damage underlying structures such as muscles, tendons, and bones. These burns appear white or charred with no sensation due to the nerve endings being destroyed. The skin may also appear waxy white, leathery or stiff.
There are two main categories of burns:
Minor burns include first degree burns anywhere in the body and second degree burns that have affected less than 10% of the body’s surface area.
Major burns include all third degree burns (full thickness burns), second degree burns that involve more than 10% of the total body surface area (about 2-3 inches wide), and any second degree burns on the face, hands, feet, groin or over a major joint.
Major burns need immediate medical attention in the emergency department as it can lead to scarring, disability and deformity. Burns on the face, hands, feet, and genitals are especially serious.
Symptoms of burns include pain, blistering, peeling of skin, redness, swelling, and skin discolorations such as white, shiny, tanned, charred or leathery skin. You can also go into shock with pale and clammy skin, weakness, cyanosis (blue lips or fingernails) and altered mental alertness.
If you sustain burns to your head, face, neck, you may also suffer from airway burns that cause difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, dark mucus, and changes of the voice. Immediate medical attention in the ER is necessary in these cases of serious burns.
Thermal burns is when skin has been damaged by contact with a hot object like the stove or fire. Chemical burns happen when the skin comes in contact with a corrosive substance like acid or alkali.
Common Causes of Burns
Common causes of burns include:
Fire or flames (ex. house fires, industrial fires, playing with patches, firecrackers, or kitchen accidents, hot or steaming liquids, hot objects, electrical burns, radiation, sunlight, chemical burns, and abuse.
Available Treatment Options for Burn Injury
Our telehealth service offers fast virtual consultations with board-certified doctors for management of burn patients, especially for minor burns. You can quickly connect with experienced physicians through our user-friendly online platform.
Our medical professionals have the ability to assess your burn injury, provide personalized treatment plans, and guide you through the recovery process. The service ensures that you receive quality care from the comfort of your home, minimizing the risk of infection and saving you time.
Your treatment plan may include recommendations for wound care, pain management, and infection prevention. In some cases. If you have a serious burn, you may be recommended to seek care at a specialized burn center or be seen in the ER.
Prescription Medications for Burn Injury
You will be provided with guidance on proper wound care techniques, such as cleaning and dressing the burn, and advise on the use of topical medications or over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil or Motrin IB.
Prescription medication we can offer through our telemedicine service for minor burns include Silvadene and Bacitracin. Silverdene is a topical medication used to prevent and treat wounds from burns. It works by killing bacteria. Silverdene is a commonly prescribed topical treatment. In recent studies, however, Silvadene seems to have a negative effect on some outcomes of wound healing, compared to aloe vera, bacitracin, honey, petroleum and other preparation. Bacitracin is also a topical antibiotic that stops the growth of bacteria. It helps to prevent wound infections and can be helpful in healing burns.
Available in 50 states. No insurance needed.
Recommendations for further burn treatments
For severe burn injuries, you may need to seek immediate care from a burn specialist at a specialized burn center. These facilities offer advanced treatments, such as a skin graft and reconstructive surgeries, performed by experienced burn specialists and plastic surgery.
Complications from severe burn injuries can include bacterial infections that could lead to sepsis and organ failure, dehydration, hypothermia, damage to the lungs, scarring causing deformity and disability, bone and joint problems.
For prevention of further damage or scarring, you may be advised to seek physical and occupational therapy. Resources to stretch exercises may also be provided and available during your consultation with your doctor.
Benefits of Online Burn Injury Treatment
Online burn injury treatment offers convenient access to care from home for minor burn injures, reducing infection risks and providing personalized treatment plans for optimal recovery.
Burn injuries can be prone to infections, which may complicate the healing process and lead to further health issues. By seeking online burn injury treatment through telehealth services, patients can minimize their exposure to potential sources of infection, such as hospitals or clinics.
Convenience and Accessibility
With our online platform, you can access quality healthcare services without leaving your house. We connect you with experienced doctors for virtual consultations and personalized treatment plans.
Minor burns, such as first degree burns or partial thickness burns, can often be treated through virtual consultations, reducing the need for in-person visits. For more severe burns, the doctors can guide you to the appropriate level of care.
Our telehealth service makes it easy to get the care you need, when you need it. You can use your smartphone, tablet, or computer to connect with our doctors and discuss your minor burn injury concerns from anywhere and anytime.
Our healthcare providers will assess your condition, provide guidance on wound care, and recommend the best course of treatment. If necessary, you will be recommended to seek care at the ER or specialized burn centers.
With this service, you have rapid access to experienced medical professionals who can help you manage your burn injury effectively.
Consultations with our medical professionals via our secure virtual platforms allow for personalized care without the need for in-person visits, reducing the risk of contracting infections from other patients or contaminated surfaces.
Available in 50 states. No insurance needed.
Self-Care Tips for Minor Burns
Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Aleve can help alleviate any pain you may be experiencing from your burn. Monitoring your burns will be important as the burns can change. If you notice any signs of infection such as worsening redness, swelling, drainage or pain, get medical help immediately at urgent care or the ER.
First degree burns can be treated at home most of the time. Here are some steps you can take to treat your minor first degree burns at home:
- First, cool the burn by immediately immersing the burn under cool tap running water or by applying cold wet compresses. You can do this 10 minutes at a time until the pain is almost gone.
- Then, apply aloe vera, petroleum jelly or honey 2-3 times a day.
- Dress the burn with a nonstick sterile gauze or bandage. Do not pop or split open any burn blisters.
- You may take over the counter NSAIDs or Tylenol to help relieve pain or reduce inflammation.
- Make sure to protect the skin by wearing protective clothing. Consider applying a broad-spectrum water resistant sunscreen as well. This can help minimize any scarring.
Most small minor first degree burns heal well on their own without treatment from a medical professional. If your first degree burn is very large, or the patient is an infant or elderly person, or if you think your burn is more severe, please get medical attention from the ER.
Getting good follow up care for your burn injuries will also help your doctor monitor your healing process,
HOW TO PREVENT BURNS
Burns can often occur in the household. Steps you can take to prevent the risk of common household burns include making sure to turn off the stove when not in use, never leaving items cooking on the stove unattended, turning pot handles towards the rear of the stove, not carrying or holding a child while cooking over the stove, keeping hot liquids out of the reach of children, keeping electrical wires or appliances away from water sources, not wearing loose fitting clothing while cooking over the stove, blocking access to hot surfaces like the stove, outside grills, fireplaces, space heaters, etc, unplugging irons when not in use, making sure smoke detectors are installed, having a fire-extinguisher handy in the home, keeping chemicals, lighters, matches away from the reach of children, and setting the water temperature of the home below 120 F. You also always want to be alert and aware of fire hazards outside the home. Keep a watch for open flames, chemicals or hot objects.
How to Prevent Burn Infection
It is important to keep the area clean by washing daily with soap and lukewarm water, avoid breaking open any blisters, change the dressings daily, and avoiding any exposure to dirt.
Avoiding exposure to other illnesses
Online treatment for minor burns reduces your risk of catching other illnesses. Waiting rooms can expose you to germs from sick patients. Telehealth lets you get care from home.
Protect your health and get started now to experience relief without leaving your couch.
Available in 50 states. No insurance needed.
Fast and secure Telehealth platform
Our telehealth platform is fast and secure. It only takes about 5 minutes to complete our online questionnaire for our providers to review and send you a personalized treatment plan.
We use HIPAA-compliant technology to protect your personal health information.
This ensures only authorized individuals can view sensitive medical details. You can feel confident your privacy is safeguarded when using our platform.
Get Started Today
Ready to start feeling better? Get started now with MyInstantMD and get the relief you need from your minor burn symptoms. Our secure telehealth platform makes it easy to connect with a board-certified doctor who can provide personalized treatment options tailored to your needs.
Available in 50 states. No insurance needed.
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FAQs
Burn injury treatment online can provide medical care and tips for minor burn injuries through smartphones and the internet.
Online burn treatment can provide tips to manage minor burns at home. Prescription medications may also be offered to prevent wound infections. We understand that dealing with a burn injury can be painful and overwhelming. That’s why we strive to make the treatment process as easy and convenient as possible. Our user-friendly platform allows you to connect with experienced doctors quickly.
We provide clear, step-by-step guidance on wound care and other aspects of your treatment plan. Plus, our secure online portal makes it simple to access your medical records and communicate with your healthcare team.
Yes, systematic reviews and a randomized clinical trial have shown that online burn treatment can improve quality of care, reduce readmissions, and increase cost-effectiveness. These studies can be found on PubMed and follow PRISMA reporting guidelines. At our healthcare platform, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of their location or circumstances. The platform is designed to bridge the gap between patients and medical professionals, ensuring that you can receive the care you need from the comfort of your own home.
With our user-friendly interface, we strive to make the process of seeking medical advice and treatment as simple and convenient as possible.
Our team of board-certified family medicine doctors is committed to providing personalized care and attention to each patient. We understand that dealing with a burn injury can be a stressful and painful experience, which is why they offer immediate virtual consultations and personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs.
Any electronic device such as smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop computers can be used to use our online service for burn treatment.
Yes, online treatment can provide guidance for burn scar prevention and resources to rehabilitation exercises.
In emergency situations, a burn patient will be advised to seek care at the nearest ER or call 911. If you have a second degree burn and the burn covers more than 10% of the body surface area, a second degree burn to the face, hands, feet, genitals and over major joints, or a third degree burn, you have a severe case of burn and will need immediate attention in the ER. A severely burned patient is at risk for developing complications such as bacterial infections leading to sepsis, dehydration, hypothermia, shock, scarring, deformities, and disabilities depending on the burn severity.
