Management of Acute Partial-thickness Burns

More than 1 million burns occur annually in the United States. The management of first-degree burns is limited to minor pain control whereas third-degree burns require skin grafting. However, second-degree/partial-thickness burns disrupt the epidermis and part of the dermis, thereby requiring acute wound care, pain control, and infection control. There are many different topical treatments and dressings for acute partial-thickness burns, and the clinical superiority of any one treatment is unclear. Because dermatologists may manage acute outpatient burns, we review the most widely utilized treatments that may be administered on an outpatient basis.