Burn Wounds
Burn Wounds
- Graded in degrees: First-degree, Second-degree, Third-degree, Fourth-degree
- Causes characterized as thermal, chemical, electrical, and radiation
Burn Wounds Becoming Chronic
Chronic wounds are characterized by stalled or delayed healing for weeks, months, and even years, and by a resistance to treatment with conventional dressings and therapies. Chronic wounds are associated with increased levels of proteases, like MMP-2 and MMP-9, which can degrade the extracellular matrix and inactivate growth factors, hindering healing. They are also linked to persistent overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can be detrimental to healing.
Extensive or severe burn wounds, or those occurring in individuals with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, could become chronic and thus be more difficult to heal.
Background
Burn wounds are injuries to tissues caused by various forms of energy. These can include thermal, chemical, electrical, or radiation energy. Thermal burns, the most common type, result from contact with heat sources like fire, hot liquids, steam, or hot objects. Chemical burns occur when corrosive substances, such as strong acids or bases, come into contact with the skin. Electrical burns are caused by electric current passing through the body, which can lead to deep tissue damage. Radiation burns are less common and typically result from prolonged exposure to radiation, such as from sunburn or radiation therapy.
Characteristics of Burn Wounds
Burn wounds are categorized based on their depth and the extent of tissue damage. The provided document does not explicitly detail the categorization of burn wounds, but generally, they are classified as follows:
- First-degree burns: These affect only the outermost layer of skin (epidermis) and typically present with redness and pain.
- Second-degree burns (partial-thickness): These involve the epidermis and part of the dermis, causing blisters, significant pain, and redness.
- Third-degree burns (full-thickness): These destroy both the epidermis and the entire dermis, often appearing white, leathery, or charred, with little to no pain due to nerve damage.
- Fourth-degree burns: These extend through the skin into underlying fat, muscle, or bone, resulting in severe and extensive damage.
Burn wounds can be particularly challenging to heal.
Our Research
Regenerex is continuously evaluating new technologies to improve clinical and financial outcomes of products and programs.
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