Burn Care

At the Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center, our specialists treat every kind of burn.

• Thermal burns: Any burn caused by a heat source is a thermal burn. This includes fire, flames, hot metals and scalds from steam or hot liquids.
• Radiation burns: Radiation damages human skin and can cause radiation burns. As sunlight is a source of radiation, sunburns are a kind of radiation burn. Prolonged exposure to X-rays can also lead to radiation burns.
• Chemical burns: Chemical burns happen when strong acids, alkalis, detergents or solvents come into contact with a person’s skin or eyes. In addition, the inhalation of smoke often produces chemical burns because of the high presence of noxious chemicals.
• Electrical burns: Electricity passing through the body, whether AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current), can cause electrical burns. Lightning strikes can also cause a kind of electrical burn.
  

Understanding Burn Degrees

Burns are classified in one of three degrees:

• First degree: A first-degree burn involves damage to the outer layer of skin, the epidermis. Even though the skin cells are damaged, the burn is considered mild and the skin typically heals itself.
• Second degree: With a second-degree burn, the damage extends to the lower layer of the skin, the dermis. Generally, a second-degree burn causes pain, redness, blistering and swelling. If shallow enough, chances are good that it will heal well.
• Third degree: Third-degree burns go through the dermis and into the deeper tissue, where cells would normally regenerate and replace damaged layers of skin. With third-degree burns, the skin is usually charred.

The Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center is uniquely equipped to help patients with second- and third-degree burns.

A clean wound provides the critical foundation for recovery from any external burn injury. At USA Health, we offer the most advanced tools, technology and experience for optimal wound care.

The medical term for wound care is debridement. It involves removing damaged tissue or foreign objects from an affected wound. For the most serious wounds, debridement must be done daily; for less acute burns, it must be done every few days until the wound is stable and healing. Soap and water may be adequate to clean less severe wounds, but sometimes deeper cleaning is required.

Whatever the severity of your injury, our experienced specialists can provide the care you need on an inpatient or outpatient basis.