What if a chemical gets on your skin or in your eyes? Let's talk about chemical burns!

Oh, sometimes accidents can happen unexpectedly, right? Especially when doing household chores or working with chemicals at work, a small mistake can cause great harm. Today we are going to talk about one such slightly dangerous, but largely preventable accident if you are aware. That is chemical burns , or as we say in English `(Chemical Burns)`. Simply put, this is damage to your body's tissues due to a harsh, corrosive chemical. This can happen not only to the skin and eyes, but also if it gets inside the body.

What exactly is a chemical burn?

Imagine, if a harsh chemical gets on your skin, eyes, or delicate tissues inside your body, it will start to destroy those tissues. Most of the time, this happens when you accidentally spill a chemical on your body. But sometimes, chemicals can be swallowed or enter your body in other ways.

These chemical burns can range from minor, minor burns to very serious, life-threatening injuries. A minor burn will heal quickly, but a severe burn can cause permanent tissue damage, scarring, and even death. Therefore, immediate medical treatment for a chemical burn is essential.

Who is most at risk from this accident?

Now you might be thinking, 'Can't this happen to anyone?' Yes, it's true. Anyone who works with chemicals is at risk. For example:

• Construction workers
• Factory workers
• Farmers
• Laboratory technicians
• Auto Mechanics
• Military personnel
• Plumbers

These people are at high risk because they come into contact with various chemicals on a regular basis. However, there is something very important that we all need to consider. Young children, especially toddlers, can be at great risk from chemicals in the home. Imagine if they got hold of detergent, bleach, or toilet cleaner and touched it, or put it in their mouth? It's scary to think about it, isn't it? That's why we need to be very careful about this at home.

Why do these chemical burns occur? What are the causes?

Simply put, when a harsh chemical gets on your skin, in your eyes, or inside your body, it starts to damage your cells. This damage can sometimes appear as a small wound on the surface of the skin, but it can also affect the tissues underneath. A chemical burn can be more dangerous than a thermal burn. Did you know? Some chemicals continue to work even after they come into contact with the skin, "eating" away" the tissue.

What are the most common things that cause chemical burns?

There are countless chemicals in our daily lives, at home, and at work that we don't even think about, that can cause these kinds of accidents. Some of them are:

• Battery acid: You know, things like car batteries, truck batteries, etc. Sometimes, inverter batteries used in homes also contain this acid. It is very harsh and can cause severe burns if it gets on your skin.
• Bleaching powder/liquid: We use it to clean our homes and wash clothes, right? This too should be used with caution.
• Detergents: Laundry detergents, liquids. Some of them can be harsh.
• Drain Cleaners: These are very harsh. If they're harsh enough to dissolve things stuck in the sink, you can imagine what they'll do to your skin.
• Fertilizers: Some fertilizers used for gardening and paddy fields are harsh.
• Hair relaxers: These are used in salons. They can burn your skin if they come into contact with it.
• Metal Cleaners and Rust Removers: Can be found in garages and workshops.
• Paint Removers:
• Pesticides: Used in agriculture as well as in homes to kill bedbugs and cockroaches. These are not only harmful to the skin, but also to the respiratory system.
• Sanitizers and Disinfectants: These are very common these days. Some harsh disinfectants can be harmful to the skin if used frequently.
• Swimming pool chemicals:
• Toilet Bowl Cleaners: These are also very harsh and should be used with caution.
• Wet cement: When freshly applied, it can burn your skin if it comes into contact with it. Many people are not aware of this.

What are the symptoms of a chemical burn?

Now let's see what symptoms a chemical burn like this shows. This varies depending on where the burn occurred.

Symptoms of a skin burn:

If a chemical gets on your skin, the following things can happen:

• Blisters or blisters
• Skin cracking, dryness
• Pain
• Skin peeling
• Redness
• Skin color changes (may become pale or dark)
• Swelling

Symptoms of an eye burn:

If a chemical gets into your eyes, the situation is very dangerous. Look for symptoms like these:

• Blurred vision
• Eyelid swelling
• Severe pain
• Redness of the eyes
• Burning, stinging sensation
• Tears flowing
• In severe cases, blindness can even occur.

Symptoms of ingestion (chemical ingestion):

If a chemical is swallowed, either accidentally or through ignorance, symptoms such as:

• Chest pain
• Cough
• Difficulty speaking (`Dysphonia`)
• Drooling
• Hoarseness
• Low blood pressure (Hypotension)
• Nausea and vomiting, possibly vomiting blood
• Pain in the mouth or throat (especially when swallowing)
• Perforations in the stomach, esophagus (the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach), or cornea (the front lens of the eye).
• Difficulty breathing (Dyspnea)
• Swelling of the upper respiratory tract (`Edema`)

Important: If you see any of these symptoms, go to the hospital immediately! Don't waste time.

How do doctors diagnose this?

When you go to the hospital, a doctor will usually look at the burn and determine its extent and depth. But sometimes, especially if a chemical has entered the body, further tests are needed.

• Blood tests: Swallowing chemicals can affect the function of your internal organs. You can also absorb chemicals into your body through your skin or eyes. So your doctor may order a complete blood count (`Complete Blood Count (CBC)`) and tests to check your kidney, liver, and lung function.
• Endoscopy: If you have swallowed a chemical, this test may be done. In this test, a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a camera attached is inserted through the mouth and the throat, esophagus, and stomach are examined. This can help check for any damage caused by burns.
• Eye exam: An ophthalmologist or optometrist will examine the eye for burns. They will first rinse the eye thoroughly with water and check for damage to your vision and the depth of the burn. They may also apply a special dye to the eye to help identify areas of damage.
• Imaging: A chest X-ray or CT scan (Computed Tomography scan) may be done to look for internal damage from swallowing a chemical, especially perforations in the esophagus or stomach.

What to do if you suddenly get a chemical burn? Get immediate treatment!

This is the most important part. There are a few things you need to do immediately after a chemical burn. Don't panic, but do these things quickly.

1. Call an emergency ambulance service (in Sri Lanka, 1990). Then do the following:

2. Removing clothing: Be sure to wear protective gloves. Carefully remove any clothing that has been contaminated with chemicals by cutting it with scissors. Do not let the clothing come into contact with other parts of the body.

3. Removing Chemicals: While still wearing gloves, if there is any dry chemical powder, gently brush it off, rather than rubbing it. Rubbing it can spread to other areas of the skin.

4. Flush with water: Flush burned skin or eyes thoroughly with cold water. Continue flushing for at least 30 minutes, as chemicals can continue to damage the skin even after they have been applied. When flushing, be careful not to let dirty water get on other parts of the body.

Special Note: There are some chemicals that should not be washed with water. For example, carbolic acid (`Phenol`), sulfuric acid (`Sulfuric Acid`), dry powders, and some metal compounds. If you have any doubts about anything like this, seek medical advice immediately.

5. Drink water: If a chemical is swallowed, give it some water to dilute it in the stomach. Do not give anything to induce vomiting. This is because vomiting can cause further damage if the chemical comes back up the esophagus.

Then go to a hospital immediately. It's best to go to a specialized burn center (a ``Burn Center'') if you can. Even if you go to the emergency department of a regular hospital, they will refer you to a burn unit if necessary.

What happens when you go to the hospital?

After you go to the hospital, the doctors and nurses will take good care of you. The first thing they will do is:

• Assess the severity of your burn.
• Continue washing the burn.
• If you are in pain, give painkillers .
• To prevent infection, antibiotics are given as a cream to the skin or injected into a vein.
• Applying a dry dressing or bandage to a minor or moderate burn.

If the burn is severe, surgery may be needed to remove the burned skin. Some people may need a skin graft . This involves taking skin from another healthy area of ​​the body and transplanting it to the burned area. Surgery may also be needed to repair things like perforations in the digestive tract.

Can't these chemical burns be prevented?

There's a saying that goes, 'Prevention is better than cure,' right? So there are things we can do to protect ourselves from these chemical burns. Very simple, but very important:

• If possible, use less harsh, safer alternatives to harsh chemicals .
• Keep chemicals in the same safe containers they came in. Don't transfer them to other bottles, as you may forget what's in them.
• Know exactly what chemicals you are working with and what their risks are.
• Store chemicals in a safe place, especially out of reach of small children. High up, like in a locked cupboard.
• When working with chemicals , be sure to wear protective clothing or equipment such as gloves, goggles, and face masks.

Can there be side effects even after recovery? (Outlook)

Most minor chemical burns heal without leaving any major scars. However, if a burn is severe, it can sometimes cause long-term effects. These include:

• Risk of skin, stomach, or esophagus cancer .
• Esophageal strictures - may be due to scarring.
• Perforations in the stomach, esophagus, or cornea of ​​the eye.
• Scars remain.
• Skin discoloration.
• Loss of vision.

Things like this don't happen to everyone, but it's important to remember that this risk exists in the case of a severe burn.

When do I need to see a doctor again?

Even if the burn has started to heal, there are times when you may need to see a doctor again. In such cases, it is important to seek medical advice. For example:

• If there is severe pain due to the burn.
• If something yellow or greenish pus comes out of the wound.
• If the burn seems to be getting worse .
• If you see signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, increased pain).

Important questions to ask your doctor

When you go to see the doctor, don't forget to ask questions like these so you can get a better understanding of the situation.

• What long-term complications can occur from this chemical burn?
• What should I do to reduce the risk of infection and scarring while the burn heals?
• How serious is this burn?
• What should I do to reduce the risk of getting a chemical burn like this in the future?

Finally, what to remember (Take-Home Message)

So, you probably understand now that chemical burns are not something to be taken lightly. A small mistake can cause great harm. You should be very careful when working with chemicals, especially at home. Even at home, keep cleaning supplies and pesticides out of reach of small children.

Remember, if you have a chemical burn, the most important thing is not to panic, but to quickly provide first aid and get to the hospital immediately. Unlike a normal heat burn, a chemical burn can continue to damage the skin even after it has been applied. Therefore, prompt treatment is essential.

I pray that you and your family are protected from such dangers!

` Chemical burns, skin burns, eye burns, toxic chemicals, first aid, burn symptoms, burn treatment