Burns: Wearing a Pressure Garment

Burn injuries need special care for the first 12 to 18 months. After the skin has healed, your child may need to wear pressure garments to lessen scarring. A burn therapist will tell you how often your child must wear their garments. Their garments will be made to fit them. They may get 2 sets of pressure garments so they can wear one while the other is being washed.

Skin Care

While your child is using a pressure garment, do these things each day:

• Wash their healed burn with mild soap. Then rinse well and pat dry.
• Apply moisturizer like Aquaphor®, Eucerin®, or cocoa butter to the healed areas at least 3 to 5 times each day.
• Have them do the range of motion exercises the therapist teaches them.
• Apply gel sheets or inserts if needed.
• Wear the garment.

Garment Care

Wash the pressure garment each day by hand or by machine. Do not use hot water, bleach, or laundry additives like scented beads, fabric softener, borax, or laundry sanitizer.

• Hand wash – Premix cool water and mild soap and soak the garment. Rinse well with clean, cool water. Roll the garment in a towel to soak up excess water.
• Machine wash – Use mild soap or detergent and cool water on a gentle or delicate cycle.
• Only air-dry the garments. Hang the garment up to dry. Only use a dryer if it has a heat-free setting. Do not put the garment in the sun or use a heater to dry it.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your child’s doctor or health care provider if:

• The garment is too tight or is cutting into their skin.
• The garment doesn’t fit snugly. There shouldn’t be any wrinkles except for a few around the joints (elbow, ankle, knee, or wrist).
• You see swelling or redness.
• Remove the garment if:
  • Their fingernails look blue.
  • They complain of tingling or burning.
  • Their skin feels cold.

Other

• Your child’s doctor or burn therapist may suggest using a gel sheet or other insert under the garment. This helps provide pressure and moisture to the burned area.
• If your child has burns on their face, hands, or feet, they may need to wear a custom-made burn mask or pressure garment.

Download this Helping Hand™ as a PDF.

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