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How to soften a burn (photo attached)

30 replies

6demandingchildren · 17/11/2022 19:17

I burnt my middle finger last week, it never blistered it just went white but now the skin has gone very leathery and it's hard to bend, what can I do to make the skin a bit softer so it's easier to bend?
(spelling in the title) soften doesn't look right but neither does soffen,

How to soften a burn (photo attached)
OP posts:
Snoooozzze · 17/11/2022 19:22

I think It will be healing below the surface and the harder bit of skin will come away in time just like a blister so I wouldn't mess too much with it tbh

KozmicBlue · 17/11/2022 19:23

You can moisturise it, it might help.

AnyFucker · 17/11/2022 19:24

Did you seek medical attention ? All burns over a joint should be assessed properly.

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Bollocks2that · 17/11/2022 19:25

if you think it's infected or it reddens, get it checked at pharmacy or doctor

Mayo Clinic:

Minor hand and finger burns
Minor burns:

are smaller than 3 inches
cause superficial redness
make blisters form
cause pain
don’t break the skin
Minor burns require immediate action but often don’t require a trip to the emergency room. You should:

Run cool water over your finger or hand for 10 to 15 minutes.
After flushing the burn, cover it with a dry, sterile bandage.
If necessary, take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Once it’s cooled, put on a thin layer of a moisturizing lotion or gel such as aloe vera.
Minor burns will usually heal without additional treatment, but if your pain level doesn’t change after 48 hours or if red streaks start spreading from your burn, call your doctor.

Things not to do for finger burns
When performing first aid on a burned finger:

Don’t apply ice, medicine, ointment, or any household remedy — such as butter or oil spray — to a severe burn.
Don’t blow on a burn.
Don’t rub, pick, or otherwise disturb blistered or dead skin.

6demandingchildren · 17/11/2022 19:25

It's so annoying not being able to bend it, weirdly it hurt when I did it but after I removed my hand it's not hurt at all but the skin seems really thick and leathery and Google has been not much help.

OP posts:
MarmiteCoriander · 17/11/2022 19:26

Does the burn go all the way around your finger? If so- see a Dr.

If the thicker skin falls off and leaves a weeping wound, use a hypocolloid dressing to absorb the moisture and provide a water proof barrier

In the interim, I'd see a pharmacist for advice. Possibly E45, but I get a HCP advice.

6demandingchildren · 17/11/2022 19:27

I have been using aloe Vera gel and it's done nothing

OP posts:
UWhatNow · 17/11/2022 19:27

Acriflex burns cream is a miracle in a tube.

hugoagogo · 17/11/2022 19:28

this is good stuff

TheCaddieisaBaddie · 17/11/2022 19:29

DD had a bad burn covering the inside of her elbow both above and below it. She had to go to hospital with it as when she put it under cold water, the pressure of the tap, peeled the skin off. The hospital dressed it and she had to go back every few days to get it redressed. They told her to use vaseline on it. It healed really well.

6demandingchildren · 17/11/2022 19:30

I have not seen a gp as I have COVID at the moment, and it's only a small burn about 1.5cm x 4cm, it's not weeping at all but it's starting to be itchy as well as tight.

OP posts:
6demandingchildren · 17/11/2022 19:31

Going to try Vaseline as I have some in the house somewhere.

OP posts:
lovelilies · 17/11/2022 19:34

It's not a burn any longer technically, it's heating so you just need to moisturise it until the dead skin comes away (try not to pick it off as it'll be red raw underneath and susceptible to infection).

As PP said, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly type dressing on it

User0ne · 17/11/2022 19:44

From experience (I used to work as a chef so lots of minor burns): If you give it a couple more days it will probably develop an "edge" and you should be able to peel the tough skin off almost like a plaster/dried blister.

If the red bit of your finger at the top of the photo is also part of the burn then you should seek medical attention.

NannyGythaOgg · 17/11/2022 20:51

Neat lavender oil is great for minor burns but it may be too late for that to help. Worth a try if you have some though

Flerken · 17/11/2022 20:56

A white leathery burn that doesn’t blister and doesn’t hurt is a full depth burn. It doesn’t hurt because the nerves are all dead and it isn’t red and blistered because you destroyed all the blood vessels in the skin. It’s pretty serious and you should see someone about it.

FLOWER1982 · 17/11/2022 20:59

My son burnt his finger on the bbq. My dh insisted he was fine. I waited a bit and he really was y fine so took him to minor injuries.the first thing the nurse said was why didn’t you bring him straight away?
they put a burns dressing on which cools the skin and stops the layers of skin burning.his finger was a small burn on the tip compared to yours. You should really get it seen to.

6demandingchildren · 17/11/2022 21:19

Surely I don't need to see anyone now as I did it a week ago, and it's not painful or weeping and I still have covid, could it wait until I'm better as I see the nurse at the doctor's surgery next week.

OP posts:
Flerken · 17/11/2022 21:36

Call 111 at least. The NHS website says to go to hospital for either burns where the skin goes white or burns to the hands.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds/

Flerken · 17/11/2022 21:46

It won’t be healing underneath. When the dead skin comes off you’ll have an open wound.

BoreOfWhabylon · 17/11/2022 21:53

Agree with Flerken. That needs professional assessment/management.
Ring 111

TheCrab9 · 17/11/2022 21:54

Bio oil. Avocado oil. Rosehip. Keep it oiled constantly.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 17/11/2022 23:48

I'd also advice medic. I had a burn that healedish within a week. Four weeks later it still wasn't normal. Hard as a rock. Then it started going dark brown and separating from the skin.

Went to minor injuries and they had to cut it out. Now I have a hole like scar in my leg with no oil glands, no hair etc.

Wouldn't want that on a finger. Might be fine, might not. Don't want to be too late if not.

caringcarer · 18/11/2022 00:29

I'd put vaseline on it morning and after washi g hands and before bed.

Gremlinsateit · 18/11/2022 04:05

Soften is right :) If you don’t want to wait at the GP with Covid, what about ringing your local pharmacy and asking if it’s ok to come in with a mask on, so the pharmacist could have a quick look at it for you? In the meantime, keep up the vaseline.