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Suggest Remedies For Not Oil Burn On Hand

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Posted on Thu, 23 Jun 2016
Question: I suffered a hot oil burn to my hand this evening, and it removed the first layer of skin. The exposed two inch area is red, with very little pain. How do I treat it to keep it from becoming infected. I live in the country about 150 miles from medical services.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
As described below

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
To recapitulate: Male/76 - hot oil burn (scald) to hand this evening - it removed first layer of skin - exposed 2 inch area is red with very little pain - 150 miles from medical services - just rinsed in cold water - applied Neosporin on it - wants to know how to treat to avoid infection ...

The best part you have already done, to rinse in water and if done immediately it helps a lot.
Red area with *very little pain indicates: this is superficial and the layer of the skin removed may be the superficial most, containing the dead skin that is attached to the most superficial living layer and away from the nerve ending bearing layer. (rare chance of being very deep that is deeper to the nerve ending bearing layer).

Please give a few more additional information.
- Please post the clear photographs as this helps sometimes for on-the-spot diagnosis.
- Do you have Liquid/Solution Povidone Iodine or can you get it easily? If available, please apply to the whole hand and forearm every 8 hourly to make the area sterile to ward-off infection. It forms a beautiful layer on the wound acting like a dressing. Is Neosporin in the powder form or ointment form that you are using?
- It take about 72 hours for the infection to set-in. Hence if local care is taken, antibiotics may not be necessary on day one.
Please check you if you any left-over antibiotics.
- Elevating the affected part, hand in your case above the heart level in lying down position is the most effective way to keep away from pain, edema, redness and subsequent infection.
- Take multivitamins, helps in good healing.
Anti-inflammatory medicine with painkiller property like Ibuprofen helps if there is development of swelling and/or pain.
- Please do not open the blisters if formed as they act as a barrier to the infection in spite of it being a dead tissue.

With all these measures the wound will heal its natural course without infection or any other complications particularly if it is superficial burns.
I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19777 Questions

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Suggest Remedies For Not Oil Burn On Hand

Brief Answer: As described below Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for your query. To recapitulate: Male/76 - hot oil burn (scald) to hand this evening - it removed first layer of skin - exposed 2 inch area is red with very little pain - 150 miles from medical services - just rinsed in cold water - applied Neosporin on it - wants to know how to treat to avoid infection ... The best part you have already done, to rinse in water and if done immediately it helps a lot. Red area with *very little pain indicates: this is superficial and the layer of the skin removed may be the superficial most, containing the dead skin that is attached to the most superficial living layer and away from the nerve ending bearing layer. (rare chance of being very deep that is deeper to the nerve ending bearing layer). Please give a few more additional information. - Please post the clear photographs as this helps sometimes for on-the-spot diagnosis. - Do you have Liquid/Solution Povidone Iodine or can you get it easily? If available, please apply to the whole hand and forearm every 8 hourly to make the area sterile to ward-off infection. It forms a beautiful layer on the wound acting like a dressing. Is Neosporin in the powder form or ointment form that you are using? - It take about 72 hours for the infection to set-in. Hence if local care is taken, antibiotics may not be necessary on day one. Please check you if you any left-over antibiotics. - Elevating the affected part, hand in your case above the heart level in lying down position is the most effective way to keep away from pain, edema, redness and subsequent infection. - Take multivitamins, helps in good healing. Anti-inflammatory medicine with painkiller property like Ibuprofen helps if there is development of swelling and/or pain. - Please do not open the blisters if formed as they act as a barrier to the infection in spite of it being a dead tissue. With all these measures the wound will heal its natural course without infection or any other complications particularly if it is superficial burns. I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.