Skin burns are a traumatic experience that can easily lead to more serious problems. Burns usually lead to constrictive scars no matter how extensive the damage was. Severe burns can cause the loss of tissue, muscle and bone.

If the burn you've suffered has lead to a partial or full thickness burn, then you may require grafting to replace the loss of skin tissue and accelerate the healing process. Since healthy skin has to be harvested, the donor sites will also require special treatment. However, in most cases the doctor will see a need to resort to skin banks instead.

Skin Burn Treatment

The following tips will help you deal with first aid treatment for burns.

Step 1 - Cool the Burn

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 makes this difficult, then immerse the burned area in water. If you prefer, you can also apply cold compresses to cool the area.

Step 2 - Maintain Burned Area Protected

Wrap the affected area with a sterile gauze bandage; do not use fluffy cotton or any material that produces 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 the Pain

You can use an OTC pain killer to help minimize the pain caused by a burn, however, if the pain is too severe, consult with a doctor about stronger medication.

When exposed to 3rd degree burns, you should call for emergency medical assistance immediately. While you are waiting for help to arrive, make sure that you don't 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. Elevate the burned parts so that they are above heart level. Finally, use a cool, moist, sterile bandage to cover the burn 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. The discoloration usually subsides quickly.

Severe burns will definitely lead behind scar tissue. Burn scar removal can be achieved using different types of treatment, although constrictive tissue is usually treated with grafts and surgery to release the skin.

Other scar removal options include 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 an effective way of maintaining the scar tissue pliable.

All of these methods can be accompanied by the use of scar creams. Once you go out and start looking for the right scar cream, make sure that it contains special natural ingredients that can help dissolve damaged tissue and boost the production of collagen. Scar creams can also be used by themselves on minor scars.