Burn Treatment Specialist

What is burn treatment?

Burn treatment is a branch of wound care that assesses and treats wounds caused by the sun, hot water, fires, chemicals, and electricity. It works to limit pain, preserve damaged tissue, prevent scarring, and promote healing.

If you or a loved one experiences a burn, and it doesn’t respond to conservative measures of care, professional burn treatment may be necessary. Burn treatment at Wound Care Associates can remove dead tissue, stop an infection, and help you regain function.

How do I know if I need burn treatment?

Most minor burns respond well to first-aid treatment and rest. However, you should visit Wound Care Associates right away if you experience:

• A chemical or electrical burn
• A burn that’s bigger than your hand
• Burns that cause white or charred skin
• Burns on your face, feet, arms, hands, or genitals that cause blisters

Children who are five and younger and pregnant women should also visit Wound Care Associates in the event of a burn. These groups of people are more susceptible to serious complications.

What are the different types of burn treatment?

At Wound Care Associates, Dr. Rodriguez offers several types of burn treatment, including:

Water-based treatments

Severe burns can result in dehydration and organ failure. To prevent these issues and other complications, you might benefit from intravenous (IV) fluids. Dr. Rodriguez might also recommend ultrasound-based mist therapy to clean and stimulate burned skin or tissue.

Burn creams, ointments, and antibiotics

If you suffer extensive burns across an area of your body, Dr. Rodriguez might recommend topical ointments or burn creams like bacitracin or silver sulfadiazine. These medications prevent infection and assist the wound in healing. When combined with oral antibiotics, you’re much less likely to develop gangrene or need an amputation.

Wound dressings

The type of wound dressing that’s right for you depends on the severity of your burn. If you have severe wounds, Dr. Rodriguez might recommend dry gauze at first. As the healing process moves forward, you might benefit from specialty wound dressings, including advanced wound care.

Surgery

In the event of a severe burn, surgical intervention may be necessary. There are several types of surgery, including skin grafts, to improve the appearance of scar tissue, and plastic surgery, to address disfiguration or scarring from a burn, such as on the face. Plastic surgery can also treat damaged joints affected by scarring.

Stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that encourages your body’s natural healing process. It uses pluripotent stem cells to assist in the creation of new, healthy skin and soft tissue. Stem cell therapy is a relatively new type of treatment, but preliminary research shows promising results.

What type of burn treatment is right for me?

The type of burn treatment that’s right for you depends on the severity of your burn and the underlying cause. Following a physical exam and discussion of your symptoms, Dr. Rodriguez develops a custom burn treatment plan that aligns with your needs.

Schedule a burn treatment appointment at Wound Care Associates today. Call the office or book a consultation online.