Thermal burns are the result of skin contact with a hot object. Burns can be caused by exposure to fire, boiling water, steam, grease, chemicals, medical laser procedures, and even ordinary sunburn. While many burns are simple and heal on their own, others require extensive medical attention, are prone to infection, and ultimately lead to prolonged hospitalization and even death. HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) offers an additional burn treatment option that helps reduce the time it takes to recover.

In 1965, HBOT therapy administered carbon monoxide to a group of post-accident miners. Meanwhile, doctors noted that the miner's second-degree burns healed faster than those who didn't receive HBOT.

HBOT Burn Treatment Energizes Tissue with Oxygen

In burns, the skin around a second- or third-degree burn can be more deprived of oxygen than normal. This means tissue hypoxia. Because cells in the body need oxygen to heal, lack of oxygen can slow the healing process. However, this is where HBOT therapy becomes a great tool in the treatment process. The use of HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen) greatly reduces the chances of serious infection or death in burn patients.

HBOT combined with traditional burn treatment

In addition to traditional burn treatment, HBOT floods the body and damaged tissues with high levels of oxygen. This helps reduce swelling, helps preserve damaged tissue, and reduces the risk of tissue death. Additionally, it helps boost white blood cells that help fight infections and promote wound healing. The extra oxygen improves blood flow in the constricted blood vessels, which help maintain the structural integrity of the skin's connective tissue. Increased HBOT treatment of burn patients significantly reduced healing time. It also reduces the chance of scarring and serious complications by 80%.

In the United States, more than 2 million burn victims require some kind of medical assistance each year. About 75,000 of them required hospitalization, with a third requiring hospitalization for two months or more. An average of 14,000 hospitalized burn patients will die, most of them from advanced infections. Those who recover may suffer long-term emotional and physical trauma.