Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Burns (Expert Forum)
Will my burn heal?
This forum is for questions and support regarding burn issues such as: Hand burns,
Pediatric Burns, Thermal burns, Electrical burns, Chemical burns, Radiation burns, Rehab/Recovery, Pain control, Psychological / Social Recovery, Scar Management, Smoke inhalation, Disaster Management, Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Will my burn heal?
by pmaule, Jan 30, 2008 09:25PM
I recently did something very stupid. My friend dared me to a test of willpower. We put our arms together while another friend put a lit cigarette in between them, and the first one who flinched would lose the dare. Of course I know now that the only real way to win that bet is not to do it in the first place.
The cigarette burned approx. an inch of my skin. Immediately after the cigarette was extinguished, I examined the burn. It seems like the first layer of skin was burned off, as I easily brushed it off (kinda like dead skin from a sunburn). Underneath the area of dead skin was sort of a white streak. No puss, no blood, no blister. No real pain.
It has been a week now, and the burn still has a white (slightly less so now) color, surrounded by a ridge of red skin. There is some minor pain, but nothing serious. Some hair is still growing through the white skin.
Granted, this was an incredibly stupid thing to do and I regret it immensely.
My questions are this:
-What type of burn does this seem like (2nd degree deep partial thickness)?
-How long does this wound take to heal, if at all?
-Does the white discoloration fade over time, matching more of my normal skin tone.?
-How long can I expect for this type of wound to normalize into a permanent state?
-What are the types of techniques available for reducing the scarring?
-Are there any remedies I should be employing to accelerate the healing/reduce scarring in the future?
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
The cigarette burned approx. an inch of my skin. Immediately after the cigarette was extinguished, I examined the burn. It seems like the first layer of skin was burned off, as I easily brushed it off (kinda like dead skin from a sunburn). Underneath the area of dead skin was sort of a white streak. No puss, no blood, no blister. No real pain.
It has been a week now, and the burn still has a white (slightly less so now) color, surrounded by a ridge of red skin. There is some minor pain, but nothing serious. Some hair is still growing through the white skin.
Granted, this was an incredibly stupid thing to do and I regret it immensely.
My questions are this:
-What type of burn does this seem like (2nd degree deep partial thickness)?
-How long does this wound take to heal, if at all?
-Does the white discoloration fade over time, matching more of my normal skin tone.?
-How long can I expect for this type of wound to normalize into a permanent state?
-What are the types of techniques available for reducing the scarring?
-Are there any remedies I should be employing to accelerate the healing/reduce scarring in the future?
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
Doctor's Answer
by Jeffrey S Guy, M.D., M. Sc., Apr 07, 2008 02:54PM
, Apr 07, 2008 02:54PM
>>>My questions are this:
-What type of burn does this seem like (2nd degree deep partial thickness)?
-How long does this wound take to heal, if at all?
-Does the white discoloration fade over time, matching more of my normal skin tone.?
-How long can I expect for this type of wound to normalize into a permanent state?
-What are the types of techniques available for reducing the scarring?
-Are there any remedies I should be employing to accelerate the healing/reduce scarring in the future?
What type of burn does this seem like (2nd degree deep partial thickness)?
I would say 3rd degree since you described the burn as white and not too painful.
How long does this wound take to heal, if at all?
It will scar in over a couple of weeks , perhaps 2 to 3.
How long can I expect for this type of wound to normalize into a permanent state? Perhaps a month.
What are the types of techniques available for reducing the scarring?
Avoid alot of dierct sunlight. Some pressure to the area in the form of a silicon sheet that one might be abelt o get at a local pharmacy.
-What type of burn does this seem like (2nd degree deep partial thickness)?
-How long does this wound take to heal, if at all?
-Does the white discoloration fade over time, matching more of my normal skin tone.?
-How long can I expect for this type of wound to normalize into a permanent state?
-What are the types of techniques available for reducing the scarring?
-Are there any remedies I should be employing to accelerate the healing/reduce scarring in the future?
What type of burn does this seem like (2nd degree deep partial thickness)?
I would say 3rd degree since you described the burn as white and not too painful.
How long does this wound take to heal, if at all?
It will scar in over a couple of weeks , perhaps 2 to 3.
How long can I expect for this type of wound to normalize into a permanent state? Perhaps a month.
What are the types of techniques available for reducing the scarring?
Avoid alot of dierct sunlight. Some pressure to the area in the form of a silicon sheet that one might be abelt o get at a local pharmacy.
Member Comments (1)
by DylanD, Feb 09, 2008 03:46PM
I was with a few friends and one of my friends felt like being stupid and he put his cigarette out on my arm and he just did it without my permission. It should only be a 1st degree burn and it shouldn't go away, at least mine hasn't and its been almost a year but mines like a white circle on my arm with a little bit of pink
by eolhcute, May 26, 2008 03:17PM
A related discussion, I have a question before i answer it was started.
by amie38, Sep 26, 2008 04:15AM
A related discussion, a second degree burn was started.
by Little_bean, Nov 04, 2008 03:54PM
A related discussion, Facial Burn was started.
