A flash burn is an injury resulting from brief but intense exposure to high heat, electrical energy, or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This rapid exposure can severely damage the skin’s surface or the sensitive outer layer of the eye, the cornea. Injuries often span from superficial to partial-thickness burns. Understanding how to respond quickly minimizes the severity of the injury and promotes better recovery.
Identifying the Signs of a Flash Burn
Flash burns to the skin are typically caused by sources like electrical arc flashes, explosions of flammable gases, or intense blasts of heat. The resulting injury is often categorized as a first- or second-degree burn, affecting the epidermis and sometimes the underlying dermis.
A first-degree flash burn presents with dry, red, tender skin that is painful and may be slightly swollen. These superficial burns usually heal within three to seven days and do not typically involve blistering. A more severe second-degree burn shows red, moist skin with potential blistering and peeling. Blisters indicate damage has extended into the second layer of skin, resulting in intense pain.
Flash burns can also affect the eyes, a condition known as photokeratitis or “arc eye,” usually caused by intense UV light from sources like welding torches. Symptoms often have a delayed onset, appearing several hours after exposure. An affected person may experience extreme light sensitivity, a gritty feeling, blurred vision, and significant pain.
Immediate First Aid Steps for Skin Burns
The initial response to a skin flash burn must focus on stopping the burning process and cooling the tissue to prevent deeper damage. First, remove the source of the heat and gently remove any clothing or jewelry near the affected area before swelling begins. Do not attempt to remove anything stuck to the skin, as this risks tearing the damaged tissue.
Immediately cool the burn with cool, running water for a minimum of 20 minutes. The water should be cool (15°C to 25°C), but never ice cold, as ice can cause further tissue damage or hypothermia. Cooling helps reduce pain and limits the depth of the burn injury.
After cooling, cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-adherent dressing, such as sterile gauze or plastic film. This covering protects the wound from infection and keeps air off injured nerve endings, which reduces pain. Leave blisters intact, as the blister roof acts as a natural sterile dressing that promotes healing. Over-the-counter oral analgesics, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can be taken for pain management.
Addressing Ocular Flash Burns
A flash burn to the eyes, or photokeratitis, is an injury to the cornea that requires immediate care. Remove any contact lenses immediately to prevent complicating the injury or increasing the risk of infection. Avoid rubbing the eyes, even if they feel gritty, as this can worsen the damage.
To manage discomfort, apply a clean, cool compress over the closed eyelids for brief intervals. Using preservative-free artificial tears or lubricating eye drops can help hydrate the ocular surface and provide symptomatic relief. These steps are only for temporary comfort, as an ocular flash burn must be treated as an eye emergency.
Seek professional medical attention immediately, even if symptoms appear mild. Proper diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent serious complications, such as infection or lasting vision problems. Rest the eyes and protect them from further light exposure by wearing sunglasses or staying in a dark room.
Professional Medical Intervention and Follow-up Care
Any flash burn that affects the eyes, involves a large body area, or is located on the face, hands, feet, or genitals requires immediate emergency medical evaluation. Urgent professional care is also necessary for deep skin burns (white or charred) or those accompanied by signs of inhalation injury. Seeking care is important for second-degree burns covering an area larger than a person’s hand.
Medical professionals will clean the burn area and apply specialized dressings, often incorporating topical antibiotics to prevent infection. For severe or large burns, treatment may involve intravenous fluids to manage dehydration and specialized wound care. Deep partial-thickness burns may require surgical intervention to minimize scarring.
For ocular flash burns, treatment from an eye doctor typically includes antibiotic drops or ointments to prevent infection. Pain management is a significant part of the treatment plan, involving stronger oral medications or drops to relax the eye muscles. Most corneal flash burns heal completely within one to three days, but a follow-up visit is often scheduled within 24 to 48 hours.