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Discussion

Motorcycle burn!

hey guys,

i'm a nursing student in my junior year and recently burnt my right calf on my boyfriend's motorcycle (and dropped it!!). He was really great about it, unfortunately, my dad is adamently against riding motorcycles, so i really don't want to have to tell him (i would have to tell him to go to the doctor). I'm sure you guys have seen similiar burns- should i fess up, or just wait and see how it heals. also, any pointers on lessening the scar and helping it heal well would be appreciated. Thanks for any help.

Featured Replies

  • Experts

How large is the burn, and how deep? What type of burn is it?

If you are the least bit worried, then you need to seek medical advice and have it checked out.........

I highly suggest that you get it checked out............

  • Author

the burn is about 6 cm by 9 cm and not very deep. i'm not sure what kind of burn it is, but definently not a full-thickness burn. i think i'll just show one of my instructors and get her opinion. any advice on lessening the size of a scar from a burn like that? thanks....

  • Experts

Is it just pink? Is the skin intact? Or how deep do you think it is?

Major thing is to avoid getting any sun on it for the next two years or so, which means wearing a sunblock any time that you are outside and it is not covered. The body is unable to tell how you damamged the skin, and if you get a burn on top of that from the sun, you are guaranteed a scar forever.

Due to the heat from the tailpipe, you will have some type of scarring there, it will just depend on how damamged the skin is also.

Sorry that I couldn't give you better information..............

Have had a few of those myself.. that'll teach me to ride in shorts ! :D

Is the skin broken, or still intact?

If it's just a minor surface burn, I use Vitamin E oil to prevent or greatly lessen scarring. You can buy it at any drugstore, or even break open a capsule of Vitamin E and gently rub it on the area for several days.

But if the skin is broken and it's a deeper burn, you might need Silvadene and get ti checked out.. be careful not to get any debris in it.

Let me guess, you were wearing shorts. Tsk, tsk.......I strongly support motorcycling, and by all means encourage you learning and riding, but PLEASE, PLEASE, invest in and wear good riding gear. Helmet, gloves, leather or textile riding jacket, boots and riding pants (at a minimum, sturdy jeans), in that order. It doesn't cost a fortune, except the helmet, and that will be worth every hard earned penny you spent.

I grew up riding dirt bikes as a kid, with various exhaust systems. Once I grilled myself on the instep halfway up my thigh on a left side exhaust system....yep, wearing shorts. It wasn't very big, about silver-dollar sized, but the top layer of skin did eventually come off after a while. Fortunately, never got infected, etc. You say yours is 6cmx9cm - that's pretty big IMO. I'd at least get it checked out. As the other posters have said, infection control is key.

Now, get back out there and have fun!

Tom

When ever I had some sort of med. issue and didn't want to go into it with my Dad or male instructors, I just used the magic words...."female problems." If the burn gets worse, utter those words and head off to your NP or Dr. :)

  • Author

Thanks guys for all the advice. I will definently be wearing pants in the future. i know it isn't a good excuse, but i was just driving around in the neighborhood....it was the steep driveway that got me. i had my athletic trainer take a look at it the other day ( i play soccer for my college) and he well be keeping an eye on it. i will get some vitamin E though. thanks again...

Let me guess, you were wearing shorts. Tsk, tsk.......I strongly support motorcycling, and by all means encourage you learning and riding, but PLEASE, PLEASE, invest in and wear good riding gear. Helmet, gloves, leather or textile riding jacket, boots and riding pants (at a minimum, sturdy jeans), in that order. It doesn't cost a fortune, except the helmet, and that will be worth every hard earned penny you spent.

My helmet cost about as much as my jacket will cost (have yet to save up for the jacket) -- both are about $250. I always wear long sleeves and my ski jacket (only jacket I have), boots, jeans, and gloves. I will be riding my bike to school (NURSING SCHOOL -- heeee he he he).

Our friend gave us a good quote: Riding a motorcycle is just about as much fun as you can have with your pants on :chuckle -- too funny

If you could tell your BF that you DROPPED HIS BIKE :eek: :sofahider , then it should be easy to tell your dad :argue: that you are seeing the doc for the burn... plus he is GOING to SEE it one day and then the truth will come out eventually. But I also like the idea of going with "female problems"... than ask the Dr office to make sure they use ICD-9 codes for any paperwork and pray that the explanation of benefits doesn't spill your beans to your dad.

Good luck and hope you are healing well!

LifeLONGstudent

eucerin

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