Burn Injury Resource CenterProtection from sunburn:
- The sun is most intense between 10am-3pm, so try to limit exposure during these hours.
- Wear sunscreens with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 30.
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Sunburn (part II)
Articles Posted in Medical
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Malignant Melanoma (part II)
Types of malignant melanoma:
- Superficial spreading melanoma: this type appears as a brown or a black lesion, flat or slightly raised that may show irregular borders and color variegation. It’s the most common type of melanoma in whites and most often appears on the upper arm and back in men and on the legs in women. This type spread initially through the epidermis which is the top layer of the skin, it can spread to the other layers of the skin (dermis and subcutaneous tissue) or even other parts of the body if it’s not diagnosed and treated early.
- Nodular melanoma: this type of melanoma spreads quickly therefore it’s the most aggressive type; it appears as a rapidly enlarging lump that is usually black in color. It may ulcerate and present as a non healing skin ulcer.
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Malignant Melanoma (part I)
Malignant melanoma is a serious skin cancer affecting the melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells located at the base of the epidermis (see the skin). They are responsible for producing Melanin which is a protein that gives color to the skin, eyes and hair. In the skin melanin pigment acts as an umbrella that absorbs and protects the skin from the effect of ultraviolet radiation. The more melanin produced by melanocyes, the darker the skin.
Malignant melanoma known also as melanoma happens when melanocytes begin to grow in an uncontrollable way. It can happen at all ages but it’s more common in young adults and the risk increases with age. Although anyone can be affected, there are certain risk factors that increase the risk of having malignant melanoma and these risk factors include:
- Fair colored skin.
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Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Also called Skin cancer-basal cell, Rodent ulcer
It is the most common type of skin cancer. It originates from the basal cells of the epidermis (see the skin). It occurs more often in men than women and used to be more common after the age of 40 but it is more and more being seen in younger people. Ultraviolet light exposure from sun or other source is the main predisposing factor for developing BCC and that is why the majority occur on sun exposed areas such as face, neck and ear but they can also occur in areas which are not exposed to sunlight.
Certain risk factors increase the risk of basal cell carcinoma which may include:
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Skin Cancers
The skin like other organs in the body can be affected by cancer. Skin cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of skin cells that can be divided into three types:
- Squamous cell carcinoma.
- Basal cell carcinoma.
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Third Degree Burns and Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is the external use of water in the medical treatment of certain diseases. Most burn units in hospitals have hydrotherapy rooms. Hydrotherapy softens and removes dead tissue enabling new healthy tissue to form and promote healing.
Hydrotherapy can have other effects in addition to removing dead and damaged tissue, it can:
- prevent the fluid loss through the burned skinwhich may result in fliuid deplesion and dehydration.
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Tissue Expansion and Burns
Tissue expansion is a procedure that allows the body to grow extra skin. It is done by inserting a silicone balloon expander under the skin near the area to be repaired (such as scars happening after burns) and then gradually filling the balloon with salt water over time causing the skin to stretch and grow (keeping the skin under tension causes new cells to form).
Tissue expansion is used in conditions such as breast reconstruction surgery, repairing burns, scars, large birth marks, hairy areas such as the scalp (the extra skin is still able to grow hair).
After the skin stretches the scaring is surgically removed and the expanded skin is extended to meet healthy un-scarred skin.
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Stress Ulcer (Gastritis) and Third Degree Burns
Gastritis refers to inflammation of the lining (mucosa) of the stomach which may progress to form an ulcer.
Risk factors:
- Patients on mechanical ventilators or who are intubated for more than 24 hours.
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Third Degree Burns in Pediatrics
One of the most common causes of hospital admission of pediatric patients is burns. Most pediatric burns occur at home. The most common cause of burns in young children is exposure to hot liquids (scald injury) such as hot water. Contact with hot objects is the second most common cause of burn in young children. Pediatric burns differ from adult burns in many aspects.
Their skin is more sensitive and less resistant to heat and because it is harder for them to escape from the burning object, this may lead to longer exposure which may increase the burn severity.
Pediatrics have a smaller body size than adults with a greater body surface area in relation to their weight. Fluid loss is proportionally greater in young children when compared to the same percentage of burn in adults because of their smaller circulating volume and different distribution of body fluids leading to more rapid onset of fluid and electrolyte disturbance and imbalance. Therefore pediatrics especially infants develop hypovolemic shock faster and fluid replacement should be started as soon as possible which is calculated according to certain formulas.
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Scars of the Face
Burn injury may be severe and may involve any part of the body including the face. Facial scars are considered in general as a cosmetic problem, whether or not they are hypertrophic. There are several ways to reduce the appearance of facial scars. Often the scar is simply cut out and closed with tiny stitches, leaving a thinner less noticeable scar.
If the scar lies across the natural skin creases (or lines of relaxation) the surgeon may be able to re-position the scar using Z- Plasty to run parallel to these lines, where it will be less conspicuous.
Some facial scars can be softened using a technique called dermabration, a controlled scraping of the skin using a hand held high speed rotary wheel. Dermabration leaves a smoother surface to the skin but it won’t completely erase the scar.