Friction burn

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Friction burn

A friction burn occurs when skin is scraped off by contact with surfaces such as roads, carpets, or other hard floor surfaces. It usually is both a scrape (abrasion) and a heat burn.

Friction burns are often seen in athletes who fall on floors, courts, or tracks. Motorcycle or bicycle riders who have road accidents while not wearing protective clothing may get friction burns.

Friction burns can occur on any part of the body but these types of scrapes usually affect bony areas, such as the hands, forearms, elbows, knees, or shins. Scrapes are usually more painful than cuts because scrapes tear a larger area of skin and expose more nerve endings. Scrapes on the head or face may appear worse than they are and bleed a lot because of the ample blood supply to this area.

The seriousness of the injury can be determined after the bleeding is controlled. The friction burn should be cleaned and any dirt or debris removed to prevent infections.

Credits

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Author	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Editor	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Updated	February 2, 2007

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Last updated:	February 02, 2007
Author:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer

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