Advanced burn wound care with specialized dressings and skin substitutes—mobile treatment for second and third-degree burns.
Burn wounds result from thermal, chemical, electrical, or radiation injury destroying skin and underlying tissue. Over 1 million burn injuries occur annually in the US. While minor burns (first-degree) heal with basic care, second and third-degree burns require specialist management to prevent infection, scarring, contractures, and other serious complications.
First-Degree (Superficial)
Only epidermis affected. Red, painful, no blisters. Sunburn typical example. Heals in 3-7 days without scarring. Usually doesn't require specialist care.
Second-Degree Superficial (Partial Thickness)
Epidermis and upper dermis. Blisters, very painful, pink/red moist wound bed. Heals in 2-3 weeks with proper care. May scar if infected. Requires specialist wound care.
Second-Degree Deep (Deep Partial Thickness)
Deeper into dermis. White or yellow appearance, less painful (nerve endings damaged). Takes 3-8 weeks to heal. High scarring risk. Often requires skin grafts.
Third-Degree (Full Thickness)
All skin layers destroyed. White, brown, or black. Leathery texture. No pain (nerves destroyed). Won't heal without surgery. Requires excision and grafting.
Fourth-Degree
Through skin into muscle, tendon, or bone. Life-threatening. Requires emergency hospital care, possible amputation. Not treated in outpatient setting.
Burns create unique healing challenges:
Tissue Destruction
Thermal injury kills cells and damages blood vessels. Dead tissue (eschar) must be removed before healing begins.
High Infection Risk
Skin barrier destroyed. Burn wounds are sterile initially but quickly colonize with bacteria. Pseudomonas particularly common and dangerous.
Excessive Inflammation
Burns trigger massive inflammatory response. Prolonged inflammation delays healing and promotes scarring/contractures.
Loss of Dermal Elements
Hair follicles, sweat glands, and skin appendages destroyed. Deep burns lack cells needed for resurfacing—grafting required.
Seek Immediate Care If:
Infection Warning Signs:
Infection (sepsis risk 20-30% in large burns), hypertrophic scarring and keloids, contractures limiting joint mobility, chronic pain, cosmetic disfigurement, and psychological trauma. Early specialist care dramatically reduces these complications.
Wound Assessment & Depth Determination
Accurate burn depth assessment guides treatment. Superficial partial thickness heals conservatively. Deep partial/full thickness may need grafting referral.
Gentle Debridement
Remove loose eschar and dead tissue. Preserve viable tissue. Enzymatic debridement or gentle sharp debridement depending on depth and patient tolerance.
Specialized Burn Dressings
Silver sulfadiazine, Acticoat (silver dressings), Aquacel AG, hydrogels for pain relief, non-adherent dressings prevent trauma during changes. Dressing options.
Skin Substitutes for Deep Burns
Integra, acellular dermal matrices, or amniotic membranes for deep partial thickness burns. Reduces scarring and speeds healing. Learn more.
Scar Management
Pressure garments, silicone gel sheets, massage therapy, range of motion exercises. Start during healing to minimize contractures and hypertrophic scarring.
Burn assessment and depth evaluation, pain management (coordinate with physician), dressing changes with specialized burn products, debridement as appropriate, infection monitoring, range of motion assessment, scar prevention strategies, supplies for dressing changes, and education on burn care and warning signs. Visits typically 2-3 times weekly initially, then weekly as healing progresses.
Go to ER if: burn covers >10% body surface area, full thickness burn any size, chemical or electrical burn, burn to airway (face/neck with inhalation), circumferential burns (around limb/chest), signs of infection with fever, or burn in very young or elderly patient with other health conditions.
Medicare Part B covers burn wound care including dressings, debridement, and skin substitutes when medically necessary. Coverage identical to other wound types. Medicare details.
Specialized burn treatment with advanced dressings—preventing infection and minimizing scarring.
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