Burn advice

[Mike P.]

There are reason why you should never sit in your camp kitchen & I learned why you don't break those rules. So now I am a week plus out from suffering 1st and 2nd degree burns from a couple of quarts of scalding water. Some itching remains & for the upcoming ADK hike on 6/4 I am looking at just carrying a camelback with no waist belt (burn is lower right side & along the belt line) & having my son carry my rain gear & anything else.

Healing so far is pretty good & I'm seeing the MD. Any advice or person experiences?

Was on a scouting trip & while I would have preferred not having anyone hurt, better me than a scout.

 

[weatherman]

Keep it clean and covered with clothing when possible. Use sunscreen meticulously for intact skin that is sun exposed- though it sounds like your situation won't be exposed, those pigment cells will take a few months to come back and a sunburn could result in permanent discoloration.
Been there, done variations of that. Good luck!

 

[Mike P.]

Thanks weatherman. Using plenty of Silverdene cream & so far, so good. My only concern will be if there is scarring that would impact wearing anything with a hip belt. This weekend, I'll be letting my son carry my raincoat & any extra gear. (It's an old avatar, he's closing in on 6' & may catch me by my birthday later in the year)

 

[TCD]

Hi Mike, just noticed this. Sorry to hear about the burn, but I'm glad it's healing well. Remember "Chicks dig scars!"

And it certainly could have been worse; a young man I knew years ago spilled the boiling pot on his lap, and had extensive 2nd degree burns on his private parts. That one really hurt for a while!

 

[weatherman]

Thanks weatherman. Using plenty of Silverdene cream & so far, so good. My only concern will be if there is scarring that would impact wearing anything with a hip belt. This weekend, I'll be letting my son carry my raincoat & any extra gear. (It's an old avatar, he's closing in on 6' & may catch me by my birthday later in the year)

Excellent- bet he felt great carrying some of Dad's stuff for a change! Usually 1st-2nd degree scald burns don't scar permanently if you treat them right away and keep them uber-clean. Silvadene is really good stuff. Might take 4-6 mos to heal completely. I poured a couple gallons of boiling soup into both my shoes once for a very large group meal. Jumped into a nearby sink and turned the cold water on, though both feet and ankles blistered cause untying my shoes took a few seconds. Chose swimming over hiking that summer for exercise but by September was good as new. Good luck.