Common Friction Burn Injuries to Watch Out For

Every year, over 486,000 serious burn injuries happen in the U.S. In fact, according to the American Burn Association, someone sustains a burn bad enough to warrant medical treatment every minute. Most people attribute such incidents to fire, chemical, or scalding liquid burns. But friction burn injuries should also be on the list.

Especially since they often emanate from accidents involving unsafe conditions or negligence which could lead to personal injury lawsuits.

But what causes a friction burn, how do you treat it, and what if it wasn’t your fault? Keep reading to learn how to manage this type of burn injury, and when a personal injury lawyer can help.

What is a Friction Burn?

When skin comes in contact with an abrasive surface at high speed, a friction burn may occur. Part-abrasion and part-heat burn, this injury develops when rapid rubbing of the skin generates heat. This heat buildup in turn leads to the skin burning, even if the abrasive surface wasn’t initially hot.

Most people will recognize this type of burn if you call it a “rug burn” or “rub burn.” Though the type of friction burn usually derives its name from whatever offending surface causes the injury. And because friction burns frequently lead to the loss of multiple skin layers, the injury itself is sometimes called “skinning.”

Symptoms of Friction Burn on the Body

Because it’s a dual-skin injury, friction burns may lead to some painful repercussions. If there is enough contact between the skin and an abrasive object, thermal burn symptoms will appear.

The effect of this hybrid of trauma and heat may result in skin that is:

• Rubbed raw
• Burned
• Red or reddish-brown
• Blistered
• Scraped
• Skinned
• Gouged
• Deeply wounded

Although friction burn injuries may involve first-degree burns that can be healed at home, high-velocity versions of these injuries can leave a victim hospitalized if not careful.

Causes of Friction Burn

Remember that a friction burn is not just a scrape; it’s an abrasion that occurs at such high speed it also generates heat. The friction comes from either the abrasive surface or the moving individual’s velocity.

As such, common causes of friction burns may include anything that involves high speeds, such as:

• Slip and falls
• Car collisions
• Motorcycle accidents
• Sports injuries

Similarly, contact with a moving factory part such as a conveyer belt, mooring rope, or sandpaper may lead to friction burn injuries.

Common Types of Friction Burn

There are many different types of friction burns, and they’re usually named for the abrasive object the skin contacts.

However, there are some friction burns that tend to be more common than others, as the previously mentioned rug burn or carpet burn, for example.

Other areas where friction burns tend to be more prevalent include high speed accidents, impact sports and in factories.

Road Rash

This is one of the more serious types of friction burn injuries, as road rash usually coincides with some kind of vehicular accident. Motorcyclists are particularly prone to road rash, even more so if they are wearing insufficient protection.

The temperature of the ground can drastically increase the injury’s severity — the hotter the pavement, the worse the burn gets. Plus, the sheer velocity most people are traveling when they experience this type of accident adds to the danger.

Even with proper clothing and protection, friction burns can sear through the clothing. This type of friction burn may also occur from accidents during the use of skates, skateboards, and scooters.

Sports-Related Burns

Friction burns may occur in many indoor and outdoor activities and sports. That’s because it’s easy to get friction burns sliding across surfaces like grass, gym mats, trampolines, and sand.

Also, with the invention of “fake grass,” turf burns are becoming more common. Another thing to be aware of is gym equipment like treadmills as friction burns from the fast-moving belt are possible.

Fast-Moving Belt Burns

Similar to injuries seen with treadmills, contact with any type of fast-moving belt machinery is a common friction burn cause.

This might include belts in a car engine, but also conveyor belts in factory workplace settings. At home, even the brush roller at the base of a vacuum cleaner can cause friction burns for young kids. These types of injuries are sometimes seen when a tool or piece of equipment malfunctions as well.

Types of Friction Burn Degrees

Like other types of burn injuries, it’s customary to measure friction burns by degrees of severity. Each degree has its own symptoms, and degree assessment helps medical and legal professionals categorize your burn injury.

First-Degree

A first-degree burn is the most minor of the friction burn classifications. In this stage, the skin will look red and feel tender, but there won’t be blistering or wetness.

It’s a superficial wound affecting the outermost layers of the skin, the epidermis. Though potentially painful, this type of burn usually heals on its own without scarring, though a topical ointment may soothe.

Second-Degree

A second-degree friction burn not only affects the outer skin layers (epidermis), but it extends harm to deeper layers (dermis). In this case, the skin will appear red and also shiny or “wet.”

It will be painful to the touch and may blister. Depending on how deep this burn is, it may require medical attention to heal and could scar.

Third-Degree

When a burn reaches the third degree, the destruction of all the skin layers is severe. Interestingly, third-degree burns may actually exhibit less pain because the wound is so deep that it also damages nerves.

Instead of being red and shiny, third-degree burns may look black, brown, white, or yellow. The skin damage is so major that it absolutely requires medical intervention to heal, and scarring is likely.

How to Treat a Friction Burn

Though friction burns are technically considered abrasions, their treatment must be treated more like a thermal burn. Ultimately, however, the treatment plan will depend on the degree of the resulting burn.

Treatment for Minor Friction Burns 

For minor burns — such as a skinned knee or a rug burn — at-home treatment is possible. The general treatment protocol one should follow includes the following steps:

• Rinse and clean the burn. Run lukewarm water over the area, using a gentle soap if the skin tolerates the cleanser.
• Treat with an OTC antibacterial ointment or cream. Using a product like Neosporin or Bacitracin can help prevent infection.
• Loosely cover the burn. You want the wound to breathe but also to have protection. As such consider gauze or a loose, dry band-aid.
• Take an OTC pain reliever, if necessary. This is purely for comfort, but if the burn is painful, a reliever like acetaminophen may help.

Remember that treatment for friction burns vary from person-to-person, and the best person for direct medical advice is a medical professional.

Treatment for Severe Friction Burns

For burns requiring medical treatment, it’s best to get to a hospital or burn center as quickly as possible. Because of the damage to the deep skin layers, there is a great risk of infection.

Deep burns will frequently require debridement, which involves a doctor removing foreign debris and dead tissue from the wound.

Serious cases may also require skin grafts in order to heal. Because scarring will be likely, additional scar revisions surgeries may also be necessary in the future.

Friction Burn Healing Stages

How long it takes a friction burn to heal, once again, depends on its severity. However, there are three phases of friction burn healing, and throughout each it’s important to follow your doctor’s wound-healing protocol.

• Stage 1 — Inflammation. During this stage, the body’s immune system kicks in, bringing more blood to the area. It may appear as redness, warmth, and swelling. If there are blisters, do not pop them.
• Stage 2 — Proliferation. During this stage, new skin cells and blood vessels begin to form. As the damaged tissue gradually repairs, it’s possible it will itch as it starts to scab. Do not scratch or pick the wound as that promotes infection and scarring.
• Stage 3 — Remodeling. During the remodeling phase, the new skin grows and gets stronger. The goal is that it eventually restores the skin’s function and appearance. During this phase it will become apparent if subsequent skin graft or scar revision surgeries are necessary.

The length of each healing stage is directly related to the degree of your friction burn. And while there is no direct “cure”, there are ways to heal.

Ensure Your Rights are Protected With a Personal Injury Attorney

If you experience losses from an accident or equipment malfunction, you should consult a burn injury attorney.

That’s because healing a serious friction burn injury may require multiple surgeries and leave lasting scars — physical and mental. However, a personal injury attorney can help you at least acquire compensation to help pay for recovery costs.

Let us help connect you for free with a burn injury lawyer today from our network of skilled legal attorneys. Because you shouldn’t have to pay for a burn that wasn’t your fault.