I burned my thigh and I'm scared

[keps]

I'm panicking a bit.
I was doing a hot water bottle before bed, when I dropped the bottle. I burned my fingers (which I did earlier in the week as well), which is annoying but not scary

However, the bottle spilled over my right thigh. I pulled the trousers off my thigh straight away, and didn't think it'd be too bad (I decided not to redo the bottle).
But Ive just gone to bed and looked at my thigh, and it's nasty red, and the skin has started to pucker (the skin slides around). I'm afraid.
It's not where I sit, more like on the outside side of my thgh, nearer the top part.
The skin's not broken, just red and puckered. I'm trying to keep dabbing it with cool water.
Should I do anything else? I've never burnt myself badly since sci.

[SCIfor55yrs.]

Originally Posted by keps

I'm panicking a bit.
I was doing a hot water bottle before bed, when I dropped the bottle. I burned my fingers (which I did earlier in the week as well), which is annoying but not scary

However, the bottle spilled over my right thigh. I pulled the trousers off my thigh straight away, and didn't think it'd be too bad (I decided not to redo the bottle).
But Ive just gone to bed and looked at my thigh, and it's nasty red, and the skin has started to pucker (the skin slides around). I'm afraid.
It's not where I sit, more like on the outside side of my thgh, nearer the top part.
The skin's not broken, just red and puckered. I'm trying to keep dabbing it with cool water.
Should I do anything else? I've never burnt myself badly since sci.

You did not indicate the size of the burned area.

Do not rub or break the skin.
It might be helpful to apply an ice pack.
If it is more than an inch or two in diameter, put a protective dressing on and get to the E.R.
If it is a small area, you can probably wait until tomorrow to get medical attention.

[keps]

Oh no, does it really need hospital attention?
It's about 7 inches long, but not that wide, probably 2 inches wide at the bottom, then it gets thinner.
It's looking less red right now.

[skippy13]

I would go to the ER right away if it is as you describe. Skin loose and sliding around? Gah! Deep burn injury. Go to the ER, please. You can get infected if the skin breaks and blisters.

[skippy13]

Mayo Clinic site says to go to the ER if the burn totals about the size of the palm of your hand. Second degree burns are nasty and can easily get infected. Don't mess around with it please.

[keps]

I just took a picture. The skin broke open doing the transfer back to the bed.
I'd say the area totals around the size of my palm.
I don't have any pain because I have no feeling there.

[Bonnette]

Keps, almost the exact same thing happened to me many years ago. I got into a tub of cold water immediately to stop the tissue damage, and then went to the ER - I think it would be wise for you to do the same, as you are likely to get much better burn trauma care there than at a doctor's office (and certainly better than trying to assess and treat the damage on your own).

If you try to treat yourself, you run the risk of infection and the need for skin grafts down the road. You might not have a second-degree burn, but if you do there are topical preparations to limit the damage. I ended up not needing skin grafts precisely because I went to the ER immediately. Best wishes to you, I know the pain is excruciating and the fear is just as bad (maybe worse)!

[woman from Europe]

Put your thigh under water for an hour and then go to the ER after. I did exactly the same thing when I came from Svalbard and the first days it was coming pus out of it all the time and I was twice a day at the ER. After a week they came home to me three days a week and changed it and now I don't even have a scare. But it was a bad for a month. I went to the ER 3am and felt so stupid but they told me it was the right thing to do. The next the the booble was big, I think you have seen the pic.

I didn't even have to wait at the ER, I was going in front of the children and everybody else.

[cara_m]

A while back I burned myself cooking. I should have gone to the er but chose not to. I figured by the time I got seen it would be morning and I could see my gp. In the meantime I put cold compresses on them. He gave me a script for silverdine and told me to come back in a week. By the following week I had fever and chills which definitely indicated infection. He strongly suggested I go to er again and I stubbornly refused. I had a fever of over 103. I asked him to give me some antibiotics and if my fever didn't subside by morning I promised I would go. He gave me shots in both cheeks on my butt and oral antibiotics.

Thankfully when I went back the next day my fever went down. I have been following up with my doc and am doing fine. Scars are still there but hopefully they will fade with the vitamin e that I am applying daily. My burns were second-third degree burns.

I probably should have gone to the er but I could just see their face prodding around my burns and me complaining about getting a horrific headache (ad) not to mention the wait in the er then to explain how to handle a sci.

Good luck and make sure it doesn't get infected. Infections don't usually occur until about 5 to 7 days after the fact.

[chick]

From your description, it sounds like it could be a mild second degree burn. I don't think it sounds serious, and most likely something you can treat at home, but if you are concerned and unsure what to do, or if it gets worse, eg. signs of infection - red area getting worse, with surrounding area feeling warm to touch, you feeling feverish, nauseous, etc. Blistering is manageable, and nothing to get too worried about, just *DO NOT POP*, as that will increase risk of infection.

If redness is decreasing, it might be getting better. It can take quite a while for redness to completely go away. Keeping area cool is good, but don't put ice directly on your skin. It's best to put ice in a rag, or even frozen veggies will do, but don't put them on to blisters - by then the damage is done and you don't want to disrupt/bust them . Cold will not stop the burning/blistering after it has already started, but can soothe it (if you have sensation), but best thing is always to cool off a burn ASAP.

You can put antibiotic ointment (neosporin, bacitracin, etc) on the burn. Like scifor55 says, DO NOT mess with the (loose) skin. Keeping it moisturized with ointment or even something like vaseline (yes, vaseline, per a couple of dermatologists) and covered with non-adherent gauze, will help minimize scarring and aid in healing. Basically, every doc I've seen for burns (derms, physiatrist, ER) and RN's (sci nurse, wound care) recommends just keeping it clean, daily dressing changes with some simple ointment like neoprorin or bacitracin if necessary, especially for something like your burn, tho a few of mine have been more severe and required further tx.

I've been a burn clutz many a times. Just be vigilant in keeping the area clean and covered, and with time and patience, things will heal and you'll be fine.

eta:. just saw the pic - *arrg on the transfer!* but actually, it doesn't look bad. The skinned area might result in a slight discoloration, but it really doesn't look bad. Put some ointment on it and cover it up. KEEP IT COVERED IN FUTURE TRANSFERS!!! Good luck.