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Skin burns are a traumatic experience that can lead to serious problems. Burns will usually lead to constrictive scars while severe burns can cause a loss of tissue, muscle, and bone.

If the burn is of partial or full thickness then it may require grafting to replace the loss of skin and accelerate the healing process. Because healthy skin has to be harvested, the donor sites will require treatment, in which case the doctor may resort to skin banks.

Skin Burn Treatment

In case you are ever exposed to a burn, here is a list of first aid steps that you should take.

Step 1 - Affected area should be Cooled

Immediately after suffering a burn you should hold the burned area under cool - not cold - running water for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. If the burned area cannot be placed under running water, then immerse the burned area in water instead. If you prefer, you can also apply cold compresses to cool the area.

Step 2 - Protect the Burned Area

Wrap the affected area using a sterile gauze bandage, but be careful not use a fluffy cotton ball or any other material that can produce lint. Keep the bandage loose so that it does not put pressure of the skin. By maintaining the affected area protected, you are helping reduce the pain and keeping air off of the burn.

Step 3- Control Pain Caused when Burned

An over-the-counter pain killer will help minimize the pain caused by a burn. If the pain is too severe, consult with your doctor about stronger medication.

For third degree burns, you should call for emergency medical assistance immediately. While you wait for help to arrive, make sure not to remove any burned clothing. And do not immerse your body in cold water or you may cause shock and hypothermia.

If you notice that the burn victim is not breathing you should begin CPR. Raise the burned parts above heart level and make sure that you use a cool, moist, sterile bandage to cover the burned area.

Once the burn has been treated properly, it is time for you to begin dealing with the burn scars. Minor burns will normally lead to discoloration but not actual scars. You needn't worry about the discoloration because it will subside quickly.

If you have suffered a severe burn then it is likely you will develop scar tissue. Burn scar removal can be achieved using different treatments. Constrictive tissue is usually treated with grafts and surgery to release the skin.

Other scar removal treatments can include application of laser therapy, excision, and compression therapy. Excision is most often used to treat smaller scars while laser therapy is used on all types of scar tissue. Compression therapy is a good way to keep the scar tissue pliable.

All of these methods should be accompanied by the use of natural scar creams to help skin heal properly. When looking for the right scar cream you should make sure that it contains natural ingredients that can help dissolve damaged tissue and boost the production of collagen. Scar creams can also be used by themselves to treat minor scars.