I woke up with a piece of skin peeled off! Don’t underestimate low-temperature burns!

In winter, a series of "heating tools" such as heating pads, electric blankets, and hot water bottles bring us warmth, but sometimes they can become "weapons" that harm the body if used improperly. Not long ago, there was a news report: Ms. Zhou from Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, put a heating pad directly on her belly to sleep, and when she woke up, she took it off, and her skin was torn off.

Image source: CCTV News

In addition, news related to low-temperature burns such as #I woke up with my skin hardened by a hot water bottle##A man suffered low-temperature burns from covering himself with a hot water bottle all night and needed skin grafting# have also become hot searches, triggering widespread discussion among the public.

Image source: Weibo

So what is a low-temperature burn? How is it different from a normal burn? What are the signs of a low-temperature burn? How can you avoid it? Let's find out together.
What is the difference between low-temperature burns and ordinary burns?

Low-temperature burns refer to chronic burns caused by prolonged contact with low-temperature objects (such as hot water bottles, heating pads, electric blankets, etc.) that are higher than body temperature (around 45°C) . This type of burn usually occurs in infants, the elderly, paralyzed patients, or individuals with slow reactions. Since the pain on the wound surface is not very obvious, it is not easy to be discovered early. Patients may experience symptoms such as redness, swelling, blisters, and peeling. Although it does not seem to be very serious on the surface, if it lasts for a long time, deep tissues may be damaged or even necrotic .

Image source: CCTV13

So, what is the difference between low-temperature burns and ordinary burns (high-temperature burns)?

- Causes of injury : Low-temperature burns are caused by prolonged contact of the skin with low-temperature objects that are higher than body temperature; while high-temperature burns are caused by direct contact of the skin with high-temperature objects (such as open flames, boiling water, steam, etc.).

Degree of injury : Low-temperature burns are usually deeper due to long-term contact and can reach the subcutaneous tissue or muscle layer; high-temperature burns are acute injuries and the injuries are relatively shallow.

Symptoms : Low-temperature burns cause pale or reddish-brown wounds, and the pain is dull. High-temperature burns occur quickly, and erythema and blisters are more likely to appear on the wound surface, and the pain is obvious.

Healing time : Low-temperature burn wounds recover slowly and take a longer time to heal; high-temperature burn wounds recover quickly and take a shorter time to heal.

What are the symptoms of low-temperature burns?

When using heating devices such as heat packs and hot water bottles, it is warm and comfortable. People may use them for several hours, but when the skin turns red and painful, low-temperature burns may have occurred. Low-temperature burns are common on the inner thighs, the extensor side of the calves, the upper chest, the lower back and the abdomen. The early manifestation of low-temperature burns is redness and swelling of the skin . After a long time, it will show unclear borders of light red, dark red or purple red, and may eventually turn dark brown, or have capillary dilation and reticular pigmentation , commonly known as erythema irritans.

Irritated erythema Source: Chinese Journal of Clinical Dermatology

In severe cases, blisters may form at the burn site, and the skin may peel off in the later stage. Although the pain of low-temperature burns is generally not obvious, it may worsen as the disease progresses and reach deep into the subcutaneous tissue, making it more difficult to heal and leaving scars. Therefore, don't underestimate low-temperature burns!

How to prevent and treat low-temperature burns?

When using warming devices such as hot water bottles and electric blankets, everyone should control the temperature to avoid excessive temperatures, and the use time should not be too long . It is best to wrap the hot water bottle with a towel so that it is not hot to the touch, and the position of the skin that the hot water bottle contacts should be changed frequently. When using an electric blanket, it is best to heat it before going to bed and turn it off before entering deep sleep. When using a warm baby, do not stick it directly on the skin ! When soaking your feet, you should also pay attention to the water temperature not being too high, preferably around 43 degrees, and avoid excessively high temperatures from contacting the skin for a long time.

Image source: Photo Network

If a low-temperature burn has occurred, you should immediately stop contacting the low-temperature source that caused the burn to prevent further damage. If redness and swelling are obvious, you can rinse the burned area with cold water for 15-30 minutes to reduce local temperature, relieve pain, and reduce the damage of residual heat to deep tissues. You can gently cover the burned area with sterile gauze or clean cloth to keep it dry and clean to avoid further contact with the heat source and contamination.

If there are blisters, try not to touch them with your hands to avoid causing the blisters to rupture and secondary bacterial infection. If there is obvious local pain, you can take over-the-counter analgesics, such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, acetaminophen tablets, etc. to relieve the pain. If the burn area is large, or accompanied by severe pain or signs of infection, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Image source: CCTV News

As for how long it takes for the skin to return to normal after a low-temperature burn, it depends on the severity of the skin burn. For mild low-temperature burns, if the condition is not serious and there are no obvious blisters, it can generally be recovered in about 2-4 weeks after active treatment. For severe low-temperature burns, if the burn is serious, blisters, ulcers, or even necrosis appear, the recovery time may be prolonged. After treatment, it may take about 3 months or even longer to recover. Repeated low-temperature burns may leave permanent pigmentation on the local skin. Therefore, when using heating equipment, everyone should pay special attention and be sure to use it correctly according to the instructions!

Author: Gao Chunfang, Chief Physician, Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Putuo District Central Hospital

Planning & Editing: Ding Dong