Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Burns can cause damage ranging from mild skin irritation to severe injury affecting muscles and bones, and often occur at home. Scalds from boiling water are a leading cause of burns in children. Treatment depends on burn severity, from cleaning and moisturizing first-degree burns to potential surgery for deeper burns.
First-degree burns affect only the outer epidermis and can usually be treated at home. Second-degree burns extend into the dermis and may require wound care or, if deep, skin grafting surgery. Third- and fourth-degree burns are more extensive, damaging underlying tissues, and always require medical intervention, including skin grafts.
Dr. Angela Gibson and her team are researching a fluorescent dye imaging tool to better determine burn depth. This technology aims to provide faster, more accurate assessments and help surgeons avoid removing healthy skin during grafts, preserving donor site areas.
Additionally, Gibson’s lab is investigating bandages that generate tiny electrical signals from the body's own movements. These signals encourage skin cell growth and new blood vessel formation, potentially speeding burn healing by mimicking natural electrical activity.