2nd degree burns from boiling water

[Gobstopper1]

This happened yesterday and I was in complete agony. Spilled hot water from a kettle all over my left leg. My son was at home and called 999. I rushed to bathroom to douse in cold water for 20mins. Emergency services decided to not send an ambulance but luckily my partner rushed back to take me to A and E. Nurse deroofed all dead skin and has bandaged me up. Have an appointment at the Burns clinic tomorrow. I can just about walk on my leg but there are waves of stinging pain. I'm bracing myself for a long healing process and scars. 😥

Anyway, I wanted to start this thread to reach out to others who've been through this and to chart my journey in case it helps other too. 60% of skin on my lower leg was removed.

I can't believe how dehydrated I feel, been drinking a lot of water. The wound is weeping a lot but the nurse did say this was normal. I'm completely petrified of making a cup of tea now.

We were supposed to be flying out on hols today too. My DP has taken the kids at my insistence while I recover. Didn't want them to miss out. Xx

I had a very serious burn on my thigh from super hot soup when I was 10. It took ages to heal and I sympathise with your pain. My parents decided for me not to have a skin graft so I have quite a scar. For years hair never grew on it and it needed high factor sun screen but it has faded over time and is now only very noticeable when I have tanned legs. Definitely look after your wound and really be gentle with it. If you do get a scar, later on you can put bio oil on it.

I'm going to upload some pictures I've taken of my leg.

Warning ⚠️ Sensitive content

I've been pretty despondent today and yesterday since I was shown the extent of my injury. Trying to keep positive but currently it's very difficult. I miss the person I used to be 3 weeks ago before this accident happened. I'm still continuing with the high protein and juicing diet plus limiting sugar too.

I've been invited to see some friends on Monday but I'm feeling reluctant too. I don't think anybody is aware of the extent of my burn.

It's very dry. I'm cleaning it and reapplying an emollient cream 3/4 times a day plus gentle massage. I've read Aquaphor is really good so I'll purchase a tub of Eurcerin Aquaphor cream.

Can anyone recommend a UPF 50+ cream for healing skin? Also a UPF 50+ leg sleeve too?

Might it be good to see your friends, for a bit of normality? I don't know anything about leg sleeves, but would a loose item be better? It would still keep your leg out of the sun but without anything pressing against the new skin.

I’ve always used Tamanu cream on my scars and they’ve always healed well.

my brother had a badly burn hand years ago and was advised to have lots of cream / ice cream - something to do with the fat in them and he didn’t scar at all (was a miracle as was badly burned as was an idiot ! )

I don't know anything about burns or creams but have been following your thread and wish you well throughout the healing process xx

Thank you, I've just read your post. I am concerned about scarring especially as I have brown skin - South Asian heritage.

My wounds have lots of hair however! The burn wasn't as deep. I can see my legs are hairy in the pictures I've posted 😆

So glad to hear you made a full recovery and don't have noticeable scars. X

Thank you. 🙏🏽 xx

Yes, I should go out but I'm super concerned about the sun. It's very hot on Monday and Tuesday.

I do need to get some normality back 🙏🏽 x

Sorry to hear you’ve had a bad day of it @Gobstopper1. I think that these types of accidents hit you in multiple ways, there’s the actual pain and recovery, the dealing with the physical aftermath of dealing and then I think there’s a bit about adjusting to the realisation that such a simple accident can have such a big effect. It’s a lot and certainly have felt that too over the last few weeks. Sending hugs that it gets easier. Hopefully seeing your friends will help.

I’ve not heard much about ways to reduce the scarring hope that other posters can be more helpful. I am worried about sun protection too though. The nurse just told me to put sunblock on it but the skin is flaky in parts so not quite sure how easy that will be and I think may end up in socks instead!

I got discharged from the burns unit yesterday too although I still have to keep it dressed for the time being as a small bit of healing left. But they’re happy the infection in the deeper bit has resolved. What I can’t get my head around is that they are telling me I need to keep not walking too much and i’m finding it super frustrating now! Just want to get back to normal.

Hi, apologies for the delayed response. I've been away for a few days. How is your burn healing now?

I'm slowly getting my head round everything but still have moments when it all feels a bit overwhelming. You're right about the processing of it all. I'm away this weekend to a friend's wedding which will be nice but it's going to be hot! And my mind is constantly thinking of sun protection and that I can't wear shorts too.

In regards to sun screen, I put the emollient first then apply the sun screen 20mins after. I'm wearing my UPF 50 trousers pretty much every day so don't bother with sun screen when wearing these. I've never embraced the sun really and have always seeked shade.

Hope you're healing well x

Haven't posted here for a while! I'm all recovered, back to normal but left with a large hyperpigmented scar. The Burns unit said it could take up to 2 years to fade. I miss my old legs. Any advice to speed up the process?

Glad your on the mend @Gobstopper1

I don't have advice for the healing but eating a good range of high vitamin foods won't do any harm.
All the very best ❤️

Propolis gel is good for burns OP. Have a look on Amazon UK.

Hi thanks, I'll check that out. Here's a pic of my leg from today.

Daily care is moisturise and sun protection.

Pics

Ouch so sorry to hear that. Burns are an awful type of pain. I spilt water boiled from the kettle on my stomach when I was about 18. I was taken to hospital in an ambulance. The wound wept for a few days. I was told to change the dressing everyday but taking it off took off the fresh layer of scab so one night I left it bare, slept without a top on and smothered it in savlon. I woke up with a good thick scab that stayed. After that I put lots of vitamin E cream on multiple times a day and amazingly I have no scar at all. Best wishes for your recovery

It's coming up to 5months post burn injury. My skin has completely healed so now it's just scar management. Winter has helped to protect my skin from the sun. My leg's always covered, when I'm outside I'll always apply factor 50 sun screen and cover my leg. Next year, I'll be purchasing a factor 50 sun sleeve so I can wear shorts and protect my skin.

Daily routine is emollient and when needed sun screen in the day, Bio oil at night. I massage the skin every night for 10min. It's still quite itchy when it's dry but doesn't get as irritated anymore.

Still on the high protein diet. Back at the gym too which is amazing! Although wearing leggings and not shorts.

I don't think my skin will ever be the same again, it's very discoloured. I'm looking for other recommendations for scar management other than Bio oil. What else works?

Will post pics.

I think it's faded quite a lot already - it's darker skin but not that bright raw pink any more.

I hope it continues to fade for you as they e advised.

But...while you wait for that, and if you are left with scarring longer term, I genuinely and sympathetically advise you start working on your mindset now. Using words like disfigured just reinforce your negative feelings about your leg.

I get that it doesn't look as you wish. It works though - and that is something to very much appreciated. Some burns are so bad you lose a lot of function. And although there are marks it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't turn a hair if I saw you. I think it's a shame that you feel the need to hide it from people. Your leg is actually amazing for healing itself so well!

I don't mean to sound glib. I know it's easy to say these things when it isn't my leg. But on the wider scale of things you've been very lucky. I honestly think you'll feel a lot better about it if you try to focus on the positives, accept having a working leg as a great outcome and dump the, what, shame? Mental discomfort?

Great to see it’s healing so well @Gobstopper1. My foot is similar, in that it looks so much better but the deep burn portion is very dark. I’m using Vaseline on it every day. Don’t know what else to suggest really, I think it’s just time.

As you say at least it’s winter now and there isn’t the worry about having to protect it the same. Found keeping my feet covered up in the summer stressful and hot!

don’t have any useful advice but just wanted to check in-don’t forget you’ve come a long way

Hi OP, I had cellulitis on my lower leg in 2012 which resulted in a large area of skin loss. When it healed, for the first couple of years there was a dark pigmented area that was noticeable and I tried to cover it, but after a few years it faded almost back to normal. The area still looks a bit shinier than the surrounding skin and lacks hair follicles, and maybe is wrinkling a bit faster - I am now over 60. The hair loss doesn't matter as I shave my legs anyway. But overall it is barely noticeable and I hardly think about it. I would say you just need to be patient and it will gradually get a lot better.

Thanks everyone, yes it has healed really well and the discoloured skin is fading quickly. Oddly, the skin on that part of my leg is really hairy! More hairy than the other leg.

That is a massive improvement up your first pictures. You poor thing I once poured boiling water onto my foot and my pinkie toe has a tiny scar from it years later. My mum always told me to stand well back when using the kettle after I did that. My brother burned his stomach from leaving against the worktop and accidentally spilling water which then ran over the worktop onto him. You did the right first aid, cold water immediately never any gel, oil or cream as train the heat!

Hi

I thought I'd send another update as it has been just over 6 months since I had my injury. I'm no longer using bio oil and have switched to silicone gel at night and moisturiser during the day. And of course sun screen.

Skin is still discoloured and texture different but it is fading.

That looks so much better, even compared with the December pics. Don't think it's even particularly noticeable now. Thanks for posting - hopefully will be a comfort to those who might've suffered a similar injury.