A rug burn is a common skin injury, a friction burn, which occurs when the skin rubs or slides against a rough surface like carpet or textiles. This abrasive contact strips away outer skin layers. While minor, rug burns can cause discomfort and irritation. The severity of a rug burn depends on factors like the speed and force of the contact, and how many layers of skin are affected.
Immediate Visual Characteristics
Immediately after a rug burn occurs, the affected skin displays visual cues. The most common appearance is redness, often accompanied by a tender or painful sensation. This redness results from increased blood flow to the injured area as the body’s immune system begins the healing process.
The top layer of skin, the epidermis, is scraped away, revealing a raw or scraped surface. This exposed skin may appear shiny and wet, and bleeding or weeping of clear fluid can be present, especially if the abrasion is deeper. Depending on the force and speed of the friction, small bumps or blisters filled with clear fluid might form on the injured skin.
The extent of the injury dictates the initial appearance; superficial abrasions might show only redness and tenderness, whereas more intense friction can lead to partial-thickness damage where the underlying dermis is exposed. Severe friction burns may expose subcutaneous tissue, appearing black, brown, white, or yellow, and may paradoxically feel less painful due to nerve damage.
Changes During Healing
As a rug burn begins to heal, its appearance undergoes several noticeable transformations. In the initial days, the body’s inflammatory response leads to swelling and continued redness around the wound as it works to prevent infection and remove damaged tissue. The injured area will start to dry out, leading to the formation of a scab or crust over the raw skin. This protective layer helps shield the new tissue forming underneath.
Over the course of healing, which takes about a week for minor burns, the skin beneath the scab will regenerate. As new skin forms, the scab may tighten and become itchy. Eventually, the scab will peel or flake off, revealing new, discolored skin underneath. This new skin may appear pinkish or red, and may also have brown or purple patches, which fade over time.
Signs Requiring Medical Evaluation
While most rug burns are minor and heal without complications, certain visual signs indicate that medical attention is necessary. Increasing redness that spreads beyond the immediate wound area can signal an infection. Other indicators of infection include swelling, increased pain, or warmth around the injury site.
The presence of pus or a foul-smelling discharge from the wound is a sign of bacterial infection and requires medical evaluation. Spreading red streaks radiating from the burn indicate a spreading infection. If the rug burn is large, very deep, exposes fat or muscle, or if large blisters do not heal within a few days, a healthcare provider should assess the injury.