please help

I think either way it's going to scar, I don't think peeling the scabs is a good idea You know maybe you'd be best going to an NHS walk in center (now or tomorrow) and getting some proper advice about it

hi

this evening i rang the NHS direct explained everything and around 20 mins ago i had a call back from them they said its best to leave it heal itself and not to take the scab off

personally it does actually look like black leather attached to my hand at the moment with red/dark pink around it the black leather looking skin is totally numb and the red/pink bit is sore

its learnt me never to use caustic soda ever ever again

regards n thanks for ur comment

lisa

The numbness is because all the nerves are destroyed, the red / dark pink area are the healing process, they'll heal from the edges in, the scabs pulling on the edges will hurt (Paracetamol will help), having a bath or shower will soften the scabs for a while and release some of the tension but do not be tempted to peel them, just pat them dry and leave them to harden again, then (being sure it's well dry) maybe lightly cover the area with a non stick gauze dressing and some (suitably sized) tubigrip. Don't be tempted to use creams, they'll turn the area into a gooey mess.

Take care

Oh Or keep it uncovered, air is good, but it you knock the scab / s off it may bleed a lot

I would advise you to keep getting medical advice. Chemical burns are very different and can do a lot of damage. My son splashed oven cleaner, potassium hydroxide, on his foot and it was a tiny area compared to what I can see on your hand. He was back and forth to the hospital every few days for dressings and I do recall them referring the the black area as dead tissue and removing it to encourage the fresh tissue underneath.

Now I am not advocating pulling the scab off, just that Chemical burns can keep burning deep into the tissue with little pain so need careful medical management.

Please go back to your doctor or hospital to give it the best chance of healing properly.

thank u so much house for all ur advice

hi aussiesue

hope ur son is ok

i shall be making an appointment with my GP tomorrow as my thumb as swollen up and its hard to explain but the fleshy part under ur thumb on the inside of ur hand that as swollen as well its not massively swollen but u can defiantly tell the difference

the GP gave me some dressings and bandage and also some tape and a course of antibiotics which i have finished

i didnt know about the chemical burns can keep burning deep into the tissue

i will however put a post on here to let u n house know how things have gone at the doctors

thanks again for ur message

regards

lisa

How to cope with / mitigate Acid or Alkali spills on the Skin (in a First Aid situation) might make a good Patient UK leaflet

Hi House,

Chemical burns are covered in the general burns leaflet here https://patient.info/health/burns-and-scalds.

What I can do is improve the search results so that the leaflet returns on various search terms on the site like "acid spill" etc.

Regards,

Alan

Oh