The chemical burn is a part or an entire destruction of the molecules, the cells or the structure of the skin due to an irritant or corrosive chemical product. The importance of the tissues modification will characterize the degree of the burn.

Mechanism of the chemical burn

1- Which products will entail a chemical burn ?
The corrosive and irritant products represent the two categories of chemical products with an hazardous criterion, able to provoke a chemical burn after a contact with the eye or the skin.

Some of them can represent a double hazard because of an association of a generalised toxic action with a primary corrosive attack ( see hydrofluoric acid )

2- The mechanism
Corrosives and irritants can create an exchange between the skin or the eye components which entails a chemical burn.

This exchange is done according to 6 kinds of aggressive chemical reactions : acid, basic, oxydation, reduction, chelation of calcium or magnesium, solvatation.

3- Steps of the chemical burn
The mechanism of the chemical burn is made by 3 steps :
- the contact : origin of the burn
- the penetration
- The reaction that constitutes the burn.
Depending on the nature of the product, we have from a few seconds to a few minutes to interfere efficiently, between the contact and the reaction.

4- Factors that influence the seriousness of the burn
- nature of the product
- concentration
- Length of contact
- temperature of the aggressive product

As a conclusion, to decontaminate efficiently all kind of chemical splashes, it is important to :
1- remove the product that is on the surface to avoid more penetration.
2- stop the 6 kinds of aggressive chemical reactions thanks to a polyvalent product
3- be able to stop the penetration of the aggressive product inside the tissues.