How do you restore skin color after a burn?

phoenix-society.org - Sun Protection After Burns - Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors

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Why Skin Color Is Affected by a Burn

When you suffer a second-degree (or partial thickness) burn, you lose the outer most layer of skin, or epidermis. Since melanin, which gives skin the brown or black pigment that defines skin color, exists in the epidermis, that pigment has also been lost. As a result, second-degree or deeper burns that heal spontaneously are initially pink and unpigmented. The deeper the wound, the slower the re-pigmentation process. You may initially see brown dots at the hair follicles that enlarge and gradually coalesce to form new pigment. However, the entire re-pigmentation process may take more than a year to be completed and very deep wounds may, in fact, never regain pigment. There is often a color difference in the healed burn wound and the surrounding area, and the deeper the burn, the more difficult it is to get a good color match. Controlling the extent of the final pigmentation is difficult. You probably already know that sun exposure increases pigmentation, what we call “tanning.” However, during the period of re-pigmentation, sun exposure may also affect the final pigmentation outcome. That is why burn patients are advised to be careful in the sun—too much exposure may result in the injured area becoming darker than the areas surrounding it.

The Process of Re-pigmentation

Currently, the main way to re-pigment areas that lack color is to create a new wound—usually with dermabrasion—and then place a new graft. Skin grafts carry pigments to the new site and, for an unknown reason, are often darker than the surrounding area. Hypo-pigmented areas can also be tattooed, but it is difficult to get a good color match and tattoos tend to fade with time. If dark skin develops at the site of your injury (hyperpigmentation), it can be lightened with hydroquinone creams. However, the extent and uniformity of lightening cannot be controlled when using these products. So it is important to keep in mind that the likelihood of hyperpigmentation (or darker skin in the area of your injury) can be reduced by limiting your sun exposure.

Understanding the Negative Effects of the Sun

Skin can be damaged by all wavelengths of light, from infrared to ultraviolet. However, ultraviolet light is the greatest cause for concern. It was once believed that darker pigmentation offered protection from light damage but darker skin is also damaged from ultraviolet light. Of the three types of UV wavelengths, it is UVB that provides the greatest risk to skin. UVB light will cause sunburn after 8-24 hours of exposure. UVB light also induces tanning by stimulating cells to produce more melanin. UVB light is also tied to the formation of skin cancers, although the relationship is not quite clear since it appears that it increases the chances of one type of skin cancer (squamous cell) and may not be as great a factor in inducing other types (basal cell and melanoma).

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UVB light does have a beneficial effect—it stimulates vitamin D synthesis in the epidermis. However, only a small area needs to be exposed and only 5% of the light needed to produce redness is required for vitamin D production. Interested in connecting with other survivors for more tips on sun protection after a burn injury? Join our virtual support group on the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month here.

Sun Protection After A Burn Injury

Strategies that you can use for protecting yourself from these negative effects of the sun fall into three categories: environmental, physical, and chemical.

Environmental protection strategies follow these “common sense” suggestions:

People at risk (such as burn patients) should avoid direct exposure between noon and 3:00 p.m. when half of the daily solar UV dose reaches the ground. Keep in mind that elevation above sea level also influences the extent of UV exposure. So, the highest risk for sun damage is at high elevations near the equator. Fog, haze, or clouds can reduce UV exposure by 10-90% but sunburns can still occur. Snow, sand, and metal can reflect up to 90% of UV light, increasing your exposure. Sea water can reflect up to 15% of UV light, but pool water does not reflect much. UV light will penetrate approximately 1 meter into water so swimmers are at risk. Shade is an obvious environmental protector from sunlight, but you may be surprised to learn that a beach umbrella provides less protection from the sun than dense foliage. Physical protection from the sun is usually achieved through photo protective clothing. However, the protective effects of clothing vary greatly and no current standards exist in the United States. So keep in mind the following characteristics of clothing when choosing what to wear in the sun: Loose fitting, dry clothing with tightly woven, thicker, darker, and unbleached fabrics offer more protection. Denim, wool, and synthetic fabrics or those treated with an ultraviolet absorber are also safer.

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Loosely woven, lighter colored (bleached) and thinner fabrics have less protection from the sun. Cotton, linen, acetate, and rayon clothing provide less UV light protection. Chemical protection is offered by topical sunscreens, which are divided into two forms: Inorganic sunscreens include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These agents both reflect and absorb UV and visible light. The inorganic sunscreens are very effective but they are less cosmetically acceptable since they are obviously white on the skin. Organic sunscreens absorb UV radiation and are divided into UVB absorbers, UVA absorbers, and broadband absorbers (absorbing UVA and UVB light). UVB absorbers have been available for many years but recent evidence suggests that UVA light is also involved in the development of skin cancers. Therefore, you can now buy sunscreens that absorb both UVA and UVB light. The effectiveness of these products is measured by the sun protection factor, or SPF.

Take Special Precautions for Children

In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children younger than six months of age should be kept out the sun whenever possible. Children old than 6 months should follow the same recommendations as those mentioned above for adults. They also remind us that 80% of the lifetime sun exposure takes place before the age of 18 years of age.

Enjoying Some Time Outdoors

The goal for any recovering burn survivor is to regain as much function and activity as possible. Going outside is important for all people. Burn survivors should not avoid such activities but instead should use common sense when exposed to sun. Again, burn survivors should be extra cautious when their wounds are regaining pigment. Otherwise, following the guidelines that apply to all people for sensible exposure to the sun is the best recommendation. Explore our Resource Library for more resources on the physical, social, and emotional aspects of burn recovery.

phoenix-society.org - Sun Protection After Burns - Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors

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