Burns and blisters are unfortunately common and painful forms of injury that can occur suddenly. When we talk about urgent care for burns, it is, of course, important to know that professional medical interventions take place. While most minor cases can be easily managed with simple first aid that you can administer yourself, serious burns or stubborn blisters require specialized procedures. At Novamed, a center of urgent care in Chicago, we will tell you when you can visit our clinic and what kind of procedures we can help you with. But also be prepared to gain deep and important knowledge on the subject.
What Causes Burns and Blisters? What to Pay Attention to?
The causes of burns have multiple categories. They can be caused by heat, chemicals, electricity or sunlight. The most common causes of burns are thermal burns, which always include heating the object or adding heat to the surface objects in contact with their bodies, while chemical burns are a different case. Many chemical burns originate when you expose your skin to injurious substances such as acids. Instead, electrical burns may be due to faulty wiring on machines or may be caused by accidents involving electricity. Be aware of the environment you create around yourself, preventing these types of injuries by seeking urgent care for burns when the need arises.
Burns and scalds are dangerous and painful, especially when caused by hot liquids. Scalds are greated mostly in the kitchen and bathrooms. This is usually the occurrence when one is working with boiling water, hot drinks, or steam. The best way to treat this is to quickly cool the burn by immersing it in lukewarm water; ice and cold water should be avoided as they can cause further damage. Take note of the size and the depth of the burn: in the case of large deep burns, or those with blisters, it might be time to seek treatment from a medical professional, as these can open the way for a potential infection and compromise healing.
Some types of burns and blisters can be cured spontaneously with simple first aid, but more serious ones should not be ignored. Burns affecting sensitive areas-whether on the face, hands, or joints-should be duly treated, considering that they can be more functional and appearance issues. If there is significant pain, swelling, or signs of possible infection, it is likely that immediate medical attention is needed. The experienced team at Novamed can provide you with care to ensure that you can heal from burns in a safe and effective manner, allowing you to heal in peace.
Understanding Burn Types and Blister Care
Trying to solve something without understanding it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Another fact that makes our urgent care for burns meaningful is that we are able to provide information to both the patients who choose us and the valuable users who read our content. Understanding the severity of a burn, especially in the case of blisters, is crucial to ensure appropriate care. By taking a look at the table below we have prepared for you, you can better understand the type of burn. It will also make the blister care process more efficient and effective for us.
| Type of Burn | Description and Symptoms |
| First-degree burns | Affects only the outermost layer of the skin. Symptoms include redness, mild swelling, and pain. These are considered minor and usually heal on their own in a few days. |
| Second-degree burns | Penetrates the first two layers of skin, causing blistering, redness, and more intense pain. These burns may need medical attention, especially if they cover large areas. |
| Third-degree burns | Damages all layers of the skin and may affect underlying tissues. These burns can cause white or blackened, charred skin and typically require surgical intervention. |
Burn Blister Treatment and More: The Best Times to Go
What we call minor burns can of course be treated at home with simple procedures. But this does not mean that the care of the burn is unimportant. On the other hand, serious burns that worry us more should be treated by professionals. Let’s see under what exemplary circumstances you can access urgent care in Chicago for burn treatment.
- If the burn covers a large area of the body
- The burn is located on the face, hands, feet or genitals
- The burn is deep and affects more than one layer of skin
- The burn was caused by chemicals, electricity or radiation
- If the burn is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, chills or vomiting
How to Treat a Burn Blister?
Treatment for a blister that appears from a burn involves paying utmost attention to avoid infection and enhance the healing process. First, never pop the blister, as this may invite infection into the skin. Second, lightly wash the place with soap and water, then apply some antibiotic ointment. Next, cover it with a non sticking bandage that will protect it. If the blister is large enough or painful, one can always take over-the-counter pain relievers. Keep the area clean and dry. Avoid pressure on the blister. If the burn is getting worse or there are signs of infection, seek urgent care for burns. Severe burns or any blisters that will not heal need to be seen by a healthcare professional to avoid complications. Proper care with a burn will ensure the wound heals correctly.
Effective Burn Wound Care: Stages of Proper Healing
Our experts say that the burn wound care is one of the surest methods of preventing infection and ensuring good healing of such wounds. We recommend, in the first instance-and this is very fundamental if very recent-running cold water over the affected area for about 10 to 20 minutes to dissipate the heat in it; this will act to relieve pains. Ice must not be used since this further damages the tissues. When it has cooled you may clean the burn gently with mild soap and water. Do not hesitate to apply any antibiotic ointment you have. It will help prevent the wound from becoming infected and will soothe the pain. In addition, it is good to cover the wound with a sterile or non-adherent bandage. Elevate if possible above the level of the heart to reduce swelling.
Urgent Care for Burns at Novamed Clinic
Urgent care in Chicago offers a comprehensive burn treatment plan for all types of burns. We treat each patient according to the severity of their condition. Our highly experienced medical specialist will examine your burn to provide you with an effective treatment plan. Whether you’re dealing with burns and scalds, at Novamed we make sure that the quality of care will be very high. Treatment may include the following:
- Cleaning and dressing the burn: The affected area is carefully cleaned and a dressing is applied to prevent infection.
- Pain relief: We can prescribe painkillers or provide topical treatments to relieve the pain caused by burns.
- Wound care: For more serious burns, we provide appropriate wound care by cleaning the wound and removing dead tissue.
- Specialist referral: For severe burns, we will refer you to a specialist, a plastic surgeon or a burn center for further care. Urgent care for burns can be sought at any level of care if it is deemed necessary for immediate and professional help.
What Are Types of Blisters and What Are Their Effects?
Blisters are fluid-filled sacs that can form on the skin as a result of friction, burns, or other injuries. Blisters can be categorized into different types, including:
- Friction blisters: These are the most common type of blisters and are caused by friction between the skin and a surface, such as a shoe or a tool.
- Burn blisters: These blisters form as a result of a burn injury and can be quite painful.
- Blood blisters: These blisters form when blood vessels are damaged and blood accumulates under the skin.
Most of the blisters are treatable using simple first aid care, but big, painful ones, or the ones on the sensitive areas, including the face and hands, from burns, and chemicals, in fact, do need immediate medical attention. If you have urgent care for burns or need some burn blister treatment, then Novamed Urgent Care provides professional care by disinfecting the wound, applying sterile dressings, tetanus shots, and prescribed antibiotics to avoid infection. In severe cases, they refer patients to a specialist. Proper blister care is important in enhancing the healing and prevention of complications of the blister, especially those from burns.
