Burns Treatment Clinic in Portland and Tigard, OR

A burn can occur at any time anywhere and is noticeable visually as well as symptomatically due to the pain it can cause. Burns cause tissue damage when there is contact with heat. There are four different types of burns that medical providers can diagnose a patient with, they include:

– First-degree burns
First-degree burns are mild compared to the rest, as they cause pain and some reddening of the outer layer of skin.

– Second-degree burns
Second-degree burns affect the outer layer of skin called the epidermis and the lower layer of skin called the dermis. These types of burns may cause pain, redness, swelling, and/or blistering.

– Third-degree burns
Third-degree burns often go through the lower layer of skin and affect the deeper tissues underneath. This results in a white or blackened, and even charred skin that may become numb.

– Fourth-degree burns
Fourth-degree burns are considered one of the worst, as they go even deeper than third-degree burns, and they affect your muscles and bones. Not only are your muscles and bones affected, but they also can affect the nerve endings by either damaging them or destroying them altogether, causing no feeling in the burned area.

Burn symptoms range depending on the cause and type of burn:

First-degree burns
– Red
– Painful skin
– No blisters

Second-degree burns
– Red
– Painful skin
– Blisters
– Swelling

Third-degree burns
– White, black, deep red, or charred skin
– Painful or numb

Fourth-degree burns
– No feeling left in the area
– Destroyed skin tissue, fat, muscle, and possibly some bone

Depending on how bad the burn is, some may go into shock. Symptoms of shock include pale and/or clammy skin, weakness, bluish lips and fingernails, and a drop in alertness.

First and second-degree burns can be healed on their own without medical attention from a medical provider like an emergency room. These degrees of burns can usually be treated at urgent care like Columbia Clinic Urgent Care or at home with a first-aid kit. However, it is noted to call your doctor if your second-degree burn is deep and doesn’t start to feel better within a day or so.

Third- and fourth-degree burns will need immediate medical attention from a medical provider like an emergency room as they go deeper and can cause more internal issues if not treated quickly.

If a burn is serious, call 9-1-1, and let them know you have seriously burned yourself and need medical attention.

If a burn is minor, you can easily treat these at home or by visiting an urgent care for treatment. You will want to cool the burn immediately; this will help with the pain. You can do this by putting the burn under cool running tap water or applying cold, wet compresses to the burn. Seek medical advice and recommendations from a medical professional like the doctors at Columbia Clinic Urgent Care for more.

It is best to visit a medical provider like Columbia Urgent Care Clinic if you are dealing with First or Second Degree burns that are considered mild to moderate. They will be able to prescribe an antibacterial ointment to help with your wound care as well as any pain medications if they think you will need it.

If you are dealing with more severe burns like third-degree or fourth-degree burns, it is best to immediately seek medical attention from an emergency room. Especially if you are dealing with burns that are deep and involve any of the following areas:

– Hands
– Feet
– Face
– Groin
– Buttocks
– Major joint
– Large area of the body

You may be recommended to see a skin specialist or burn specialist surgeon or other specialists if the burn is severe and the doctor thinks another examination will be needed. Call one of our locations today to book an appointment, or simply walk right in! We serve patients from Tibbetts St Portland, Milwaukie OR, Oak Grove OR, Stark Street Portland, Fairview OR, Happy Valley OR, Gladstone OR, Cedar Mill OR, Tibbetts Street Portland OR, West Linn OR, Aloha OR, Tigard OR, Lake Oswego OR, Tualatin OR, Oregon City OR, and surrounding areas.