From the Guidelines
If you have a chemical burn from stove cleaner on your skin, immediately rinse the affected area with cool running water for at least 15 minutes to dilute and remove the chemical, as recommended by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1. When providing first aid for a chemical burn, it is essential to prioritize immediate skin decontamination to minimize the risk of further injury and promote healing. The guidelines suggest that unless otherwise recommended by local guidelines or chemical-specific information, skin exposed to caustic chemicals should be irrigated with running water for at least 15 minutes 1.
Key Considerations for Treatment
- Remove any contaminated clothing, jewelry, and other surrounding materials from the area of the chemical exposure to avoid trapping chemicals against the skin during decontamination 1.
- Brush off any dry chemical before irrigation with water, if possible, to prevent further skin irritation 1.
- After thorough rinsing, gently pat the area dry with a clean cloth to prevent infection and promote healing.
- For pain relief, consider taking over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as needed, following the recommended dosage instructions.
- Cover the burn with a sterile, non-stick bandage and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to keep the area moist and promote healing.
When to Seek Medical Attention
- If the burn is larger than 3 inches, affects sensitive areas, appears deep, causes severe pain, or shows signs of infection, seek immediate medical attention 1.
- If you experience systemic symptoms like dizziness or difficulty breathing, seek medical help promptly, as these can be indicative of more severe chemical exposure or underlying conditions 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Prompt institution of appropriate regimens for care of the burned patient is of prime importance and includes the control of shock and pain. The burn wounds are then cleansed and debrided; silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% is then applied under sterile conditions. The cream should be applied once to twice daily to a thickness of approximately one sixteenth of an inch. Treatment with silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% should be continued until satisfactory healing has occurred or until the burn site is ready for grafting.
The treatment options for a chemical burn on the skin caused by a stove cleaner include:
- Cleansing and debridement of the burn wounds
- Application of silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% under sterile conditions, once to twice daily, to a thickness of approximately one sixteenth of an inch
- Continued treatment with silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% until satisfactory healing has occurred or until the burn site is ready for grafting 2
From the Research
Treatment Options for Chemical Burns
- Immediate water irrigation is recommended for all chemical burns, except for a few exceptions such as cresol 3
- Copious irrigation with water remains the mainstay of early management, excluding specific situations and chemical exposure 4, 5
- Assessment of the patient should be rapid and occur in conjunction with early emergency management, including a rapid history and primary and secondary survey to exclude systemic side effects of the injury 4
- Early treatment of chemical burns is crucial and may reduce the period of resulting morbidity 4
- Referral to a centre of higher acuity may be required for expert evaluation 4
- Specific antidotes are available for certain types of chemical burns, such as polyethylene glycol solutions for phenol burns 5
- Understanding the pathophysiology of a chemical burn injury and identifying the nature of the offending agent is important for effective management 6
General Principles of Management
- Prompt assessment and management of chemical injuries is vital to reduce the deleterious effect of the compound involved 6
- The decision whether to excise the wound early is not always clear-cut, and assessment of burn depth is often difficult 7
- Supportive measures, such as intensive general supportive treatment and repeated haemodialysis, may be needed during treatment 3