An Overview Of Chemical Burns
Chemical burns may affect accidentally anywhere and anytime. Chemical substances that are placed in living and storage areas can be seriously harmful. Some of the chemicals that are placed in the houses may even lead to death if they come in close contact with human body.
Misuse of certain chemicals such as those meant for hair, skin and nail may lead to accident resulting in chemical burns. The risk of chemical burn is high at workplaces particularly the factories and industrial units using huge quantities of chemicals.
What causes chemical burn?
Most of the chemical burns are caused by the use of acids or bases. You can avoid the chances of chemical burn injuries by applying common sense precautions. Consumer education is also essential to avoid the risk of chemical burn injuries.
Bleach, concrete mix and several other domestic products such as toilet and metal cleaners and pool chlorinators can potentially cause chemical burns.
Chemical Burn Symptoms
All chemical burns require immediate medical attention. Chemical burns mostly affect the face and eye besides occurring on arms and legs.
Though chemical burn is usually seen as a small injury necessitating outpatient treatment, sometimes it can be deceiving.
Some chemical agents can deeply harm the tissue that is not visible in the beginning on the first look.
The effect of chemical burns on the tissue varies in accordance with concentration of the agent and the location of the contact like eye, skin and mucous membrane and several other factors like swallowing or inhalation of chemical agent, quantity of agent coming in contact with skin and duration of exposure.
Chemical burns primarily cause redness, irritation and burning sensation at the affected area of the skin.
The affected area becomes painful and numb.
Sometimes blisters appear on the skin as a result of contact with chemical agents.
The entry of chemical into eyes may affect the vision.
Exposure to chemical may also cause cough and breathe shortness.
