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The FAQ File
- How long will the burns take to heal
- What is the role of all the therapists who help the children throughout their rehabilitation period.
- Will the burn injuries leave scars.
- What is a scar management programme.
- How long should pressure garments be worn.
- My child hates wearing the pressure garments and we have a constant battle to get him / her into them. Are they really necessary.
- My child is unhappy about wearing pressure garments. Are there any alternative options.
- What happens if the skin breaks down underneath pressure garments, should I stop wearing them.
- Will hair grow back following a burn injury.
- Will the burned skin return to its normal colour.
- Why do blisters develop on the scars.
- When can my child go swimming.
- Will the affected skin be more fragile.
- What type of moisturising cream should I use to keep the scars supple.
- When can my child return to school.
- My child, who has suffered burn injury, is having problems at school. Who can I contact for advice.
- Why can't I seem to control my feelings.
- As the parent of a child who has suffered a burn injury, I am feeling guilty.
- Who can I approach to talk through my feelings.
- Where can I get some information for adult burn survivors.
- Can you help my child who is finding it difficult to make friends and socialise with others in his peer group.
- Can the pressure garments be taken off when it's very hot in the summer months.
The time It takes for your burn to heal will depend on several things:
- Age
- Medical history
- Nutritional status
- Where the burn is located on the body
- The size and depth of the burn
- Possible complications such as infection
- A Superficial burn only involves the very outer layer of your skin. The skin will appear red and feel tender, similar to sunburn, and will taken between 3 to 5 days to heal.
- A Partial thickness burn involves the outer layer and a portion of the inner layer of skin. The skin will appear red and blistered, and be extremely painful, as the burn has exposed thousands of nerve endings. This type of burn will take 7-28 days to heal.
- A Full thickness burn destroys both layers of skin, the appearance can be whitish or charred and has a tough, leathery feel about it and is cool to the touch. These areas are painful as the nerve endings have been destroyed.Healing nearly always requires skin-grafting, unless it is a very small area that may heal in from the edges. N.B. If you have sustained an electrical injury, the burn may be so deep that is has destroyed muscle, tendons and bone, underlying the damaged skin. Sometimes the damage is so severe that amputation is the only option. Back to Questions.
Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists are extremely important in a child's recovery. Exercises are
developed and splints designed to help patients maintain bodily functions and/or to move burned areas that are
often stiff and painful.
Psychotherapists encourage you to let out your feelings, concerns and anxieties. They assist you to "work
through" some of your feelings towards the accident which caused the injury and will also work with the family
to assist them in dealing with their feelings.
These sessions help everyone to re-build their body image, self-esteem and independence.
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Burn wounds do tend to leave scars, depending on the depth of burn. Some scars will fade after a period of time.
However, following a scar management programme will give the greatest chance of less obvious scarring. Some burn
scars never go completely.
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When the burn wounds are healed, the child will be measured up for pressure garments. These are individually
tailored, elastic-type garments that exert a constant pressure over the burn scars. This helps to prevent the
scars from "overgrowing" (hypertrophic scarring), and becoming gnarled and lumpy. They also help to prevent the
formation of scar "contractures" which is a tightening or pulling of the skin in a band-like fashion that
decreases movement.
With proper care and management during the growth period of the scar, the results will be acceptable leaving a
soft, pale and pliable scar.
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The pressure garments should be worn all the time, day and night. The garments may be removed for just half an
hour a day to allow for washing, creaming and massaging of the scarred area.
When the consultant is happy with the appearance of the scars, he will advise you as to when you can discontinue
the pressure therapy. Some patients wear pressure garments for up to two years.
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Yes, it is definitely worth preservering. It may be worth checking with the therapists that the garments are a
correct fit. Children grow very quickly and it is very important to have them re-measured regularly so that new
garments can be made if necessary.
It has been shown that pressure therapy does improve the appearance of scarring, by flattening the collagen
fibres into a more uniform appearance. Your child will get used to the garments and it is important for you
to try and keep them motivated sufficiently to wear them.
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No, you should continue to wear the garments, but cover the area with a non-adhesive
dressing or foam pad for protection.
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The best thing to do if it is very hot, is to remove the outer clothing, stay in the cool (the shade), cool
off with some water, but try and keep the pressure garments on.
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This depends on the depth of the burn and whether or not the hair follicles are all damaged. Patches of
baldness on the scalp can be successfully treated with a surgical technique known as "tissue expansion".
This involves inserting a bag of fluid into the scalp, below the skin. Over several weeks, fluid is injected
into the bag which gradually stretches the skin, allowing the hair bearing section of the skin to be used as a
cover for the bald patch. Once enough excess skin has been identified, the bag is removed and an operation
carried out to cover the bald patch with a hairy graft.
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Corrective cosmetic techniques, or camouflage make-up can be applied, along with the teaching of clothing
selection to maximise a health appearance.
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As the scars settle the nerve endings in the skin begin to recover and become over sensitive which often causes
itching. You can help ease the itching by regular creaming and massaging, wearing the pressure garment. If the
itching becomes bad at night, applying some calamine lotion can soothe the area. Don't forget to wash it off in
the morning before massaging moisturising cream into the area.
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As soon as the burns are fully healed. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise, it is important to remember to
wear the pressure garments in the water and to rinse them thoroughly with fresh water following the swim. It is
also important to shower the child down following the swim, to prevent the chlorine drying out the scars. Once
showered, apply moisturising cream to the scars.
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Initially the burned skin will be very fragile and on occasions it may break down spontaneously. As time goes on
the new skin does toughen.
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Any moisturiser that is not highly perfumed. Aqueous cream is very good and can be bought from the chemists.
It is important not to use any cream that has any wax, paraffin or petroleum listed in it's ingredients, as these
will damage your pressure garments. Use a moisturiser that is water or silicone based.
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That depends on the size and area of the burn. In some cases, your child would be allowed to return to school
before full healing has taken place in order to continue their studies; however, games and playing in the
playground would not be allowed.
The teachers may need some preparation before your child returns to school and we can run a school re-entry
programme. A member of staff from the Burned Children's Club can come along to the school to talk to staff
and pupils about children with burns and the best way to approach educational needs.
With regard to physical education, sports and games, it is best to wait until all healing has taken place or
skin grafts are firm. It is best to get your doctor's advice before re-commencing physical education.
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The Burned Children's club runs a school re-entry programme for children who have suffered
burn injury (see the above answer). If you would like to talk over any aspect of schooling for
your child, please contact the office for advice.
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You and your child will experience many different feelings relating to the burns and how they
are creating many changes in your lives. They feelings will change from day to day and will include:
anger, frustration, sadness, guilt and even hopelessness. These feelings cause you to say and do things
that you would not normally do. They are all normal reactions to your situation and the psychotherapists
and other members of the burns team will help you to deal with your feelings. It is always better to talk
about your feelings than to "bottle them up".
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Please call us. We will always be happy to talk things over with you, or put you in touch with
someone who can help.
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They can be contacted at the following addresses:
Terry Everitt
416 Outwood Common Road
Billericay Essex
CM11 1ET UK.
e-mail: burnsurvivorsassociation@hotmail.com
Or look at our 'Links Page'.
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Please call us at the burned children's club office. Where we may be able to offer advise.
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Our Charity organises many social events to which new children are always welcome. This is an ideal
opportunity for young burn survivors to meet and exchange views with other children and families who have
also suffered a burn injury. Please call us at the burned children's club office. We will always be happy
to talk things over with you, or put you in touch with someone who can help.
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