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Description
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- Pink, wet, small blisters, intact sensation
- Blanches on pressure with normal capillary return
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Management Aims
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Treatment
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- Initial first aid - cold water, about 15°, for 20 minutes. Do not use ice or iced water. If longer than 3 hours since time of injury cold water will have no beneficial effect (MSB 1996).
- De-roof any blisters larger than 1 cm diameter with sterile scissors.
- Apply paraffin-impregnated gauze eg Jelonet (where larger volumes of fluid are exuding) or Vaseline Petrolatum Gauze (where smaller volumes of fluid are exuding).
- Absorbent secondary dressing eg Release and Tegaderm, Orla Plus (for small areas) or gauze +/- gamgee (depending on exudate levels) plus a bandage to secure (for larger areas).
- When exudate levels drop, change to Hydrocolloid, Hydropolymer or Hydrocellular foam.
- If wound is not showing signs of improving within 3 days post injury, refer to Regional Burns Unit Clinic at St John's Hospital (adult) or Royal Hospital for Sick Children (children) for advice
DO NOT APPLY SILVER SULFADIAZINE 1% CREAM (FLAMAZINE) TO SUPERFICIAL BURNS
(Silver sulfadiazine 1% cream should only be used on infected small burns, or for prevention of infection in larger burns, after full assessment by a specialist)
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Comment
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- Superficial burns should heal within 2 weeks
- If healing is delayed it means the burn is deeper than originally diagnosed
- Apply simple emollient 2 x daily when healed, wash off with water before reapplying emollient
- Avoid wearing nylon next to recently healed areas
- Will need protected from sunlight/UV light for up to a year with a factor 25+ sun screen
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