Burn treatment in Patong

Burns are one of the most common injuries we treat here, and the most common cause is not cooking. It is the scooter exhaust pipe. Get off a bike carelessly and the inside of your calf meets metal that has been running for an hour. Burn treatment in Patong is available at our clinic 24 hours a day, and how you handle the first ten minutes changes the outcome.

What to do immediately

Cool the burn under cool running water for twenty minutes. Not ice, not iced water, just cool tap water. Twenty minutes sounds like a long time and it is the single most useful thing you can do, because it keeps the heat from continuing to damage deeper tissue after contact has ended.

Remove rings, watches and anything tight near the area before swelling starts. Cover it loosely with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy cloth, then come and see us.

Do not put toothpaste, oil, butter, aloe straight from a plant, or ice on a burn. Every one of these is common local advice and every one of them either traps heat, introduces infection, or makes the wound harder to assess.

Exhaust pipe burns

These deserve their own section because they behave badly. They are usually deeper than they look, they sit on the calf where skin moves constantly, and they happen on holiday when people are swimming in the sea and pools afterwards.

We assess the depth, clean the wound, remove any dead skin that needs to come off, and dress it with a burn dressing that keeps it moist without sticking. Then we see you every day or two to change the dressing and watch for infection.

Sunburn and blistering

Patong sun catches people out on day one, and severe sunburn with blistering is a proper burn, not just discomfort. We treat the pain, look after the blisters, and watch for infection and for signs that you have also been dehydrated or affected by the heat.

The rule with blisters is to leave them intact where possible, because the skin over the top is a natural sterile dressing. Where they are large or already broken, we manage them properly rather than leaving loose skin to catch and tear.

How we judge severity

Superficial burns are red, painful and dry, and heal within a week or so. Partial thickness burns blister, weep and hurt a great deal, and take two to three weeks. Full thickness burns look white, brown or leathery and may be strangely painless because the nerve endings have gone, which is a bad sign rather than a good one.

Size and site matter as much as depth. Burns to the face, hands, feet, genitals or across a joint, and any burn larger than the palm of your hand, need proper assessment and often hospital care. We will refer you rather than manage something that belongs in a burns unit.

Infection is the real risk

In this climate, a burn that is not looked after gets infected quickly. Heat, humidity, sweat, sand and seawater all work against you. Keep it dry and covered, stay out of the pool and the sea until we say otherwise, and come back if the pain increases after day two, if redness spreads, or if there is discharge or a smell.

We check your tetanus status too, because burns count as dirty wounds if the skin is broken.

Common questions about burn treatment in Patong

Should I pop the blisters?

No. Leave them intact and let us assess them. Broken blisters are an entry point for infection.

Can I swim with a burn?

Not until it has healed. Sea and pool water are the fastest route to an infected burn here.

How much does burn treatment cost?

It depends on the size and how many dressing changes you need. Follow-up visits cost less than the first. Message us for a quote.

Will it scar?

Superficial burns usually heal without scarring. Deeper ones may mark. Keeping it clean, covered and out of the sun gives the best result.

Can you dress it at my hotel?

Yes, including repeat dressing changes if walking is painful.