Understanding How Pressure Garments Work for Burns
Written on April 11, 2022
Every burn survivor’s road to recovery looks a little different. Because burns can take months or even years to heal, it’s important that survivors take steps early on to protect and nurture their skin.
So how exactly does the lifecycle of a burn play out? As second- and third-degree burns heal, collagen fibers become hyperactive. Red and raised scars, known as hypertrophic scars, become painful and itchy. Pressure garments offer relief for many burn survivors ready to embark on their recovery journey, especially those with severe swelling and circulation complications.
What Are Pressure Garments?
Pressure garments are typically made out of elastic bandages or compression material. After an injury, medical professionals use pressure garments to aid in the healing burns and grafts. Pressure garments must be durable enough to withstand natural wear and tear, yet they also must provide enough flexibility for a person to carry out daily activities like normal.
What’s their purpose?
Pressure garments serve two main functions for burn survivors: to control scar maturation naturally and to improve the overall appearance of scarring over time. Garments also help manage swelling that may occur almost immediately after an initial injury and over the long term. By applying direct pressure to the scar, bandages constrict blood flow to that area of skin and therefore limit the process of new scarring to nearby tissue.
How do they work?
Compression caused by garments controls scar maturation and managing the production of collagen. After enduring the initial burn, your body is in a constant state of healing. In fact, 24 hours per day, your skin is laying down new scar tissue. This process continues for an average of 12-18 months after the burn has healed.
Scarring is most intense in the initial 3-6 months after injury, and it begins to subside in the next 6-9 months. In some cases, pressure garments can be very tight in an effort to reduce swelling. However, if the discomfort becomes painful or unmanageable, you should speak with your burn team about modifications or alternatives in garment applications.
Types of Pressure Garments
Pressure garments come in a variety of forms and functions. The types of garment you may use will be dependent on a number of factors, including:
The type of wound that is being healed
The part of the body that has been injured
The duration of time since healing first began
An individual’s needs and lifestyle (level of physical activity)
Genetics
When you meet with your burn team, you’ll learn about a variety of garment options available to you. These are the most common options, based on the type and severity of your burn:
Elastic wrap bandages for arms and legs
Tubular pressure bandages to apply gentle pressure
Interim care garments for those looking for off-the-shelf garments
Custom garments made of nylon, specific to a survivor’s measurements
Speak with your burn team to learn more about custom options available to you, including for specialized areas.
Benefits of Using a Pressure Garment
There are a variety of improvements you may notice as a result of using pressure garments. Here are just a few of the most prevalent benefits:
Protecting fragile skin
Promoting better circulation
Decreasing itching
Reducing thick and hard scars
Increasing skin length by applying pressure to contracture bands
Particularly in the legs, many burn survivors notice a decrease in itchiness and tingling after applying pressure to their injuries. Months later, this will result in softer, smoother scars.
Getting Started
It’s a good idea to keep at least two complete sets of garments so you can regularly wash and change out sets. Garments should be air-dried to prevent any stretching that would reduce the applied pressure to a wound.
If you notice one or more of the following symptoms, speak with your burn team or talk to an expert as soon as possible:
Swollen areas of the body other than those under direct pressure
Skin breakage that may lead to a new open wound
Dramatic changes in body weight or shape
Seeking Support from the Community
For many burn survivors, unfortunately, the road to recovery is too often traveled in isolation. But at Phoenix Society, we know that it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, your experience as a recovering burn survivor can be affirming, empowering, and shared.
Finding a community that understands what you’re going through and knows how to help can make all the difference in your personal and physical healing.
We’ve seen the impact of such a community firsthand, time and time again. If you’re looking for support as you navigate uncharted territory in the healing process of a burn injury, know that you are not alone. There are plenty of people eager to help. For more information about getting connected, check out our burn survivor community calendar for more.
Interested in getting pressure garments? Speak to your burn team! Insurance will often cover the expense, but there are alternative options to consider if not or you do not have insurance.