Nutrition for Third-Degree Burns: Essential Dietary Needs for Healing

Third-degree burns, the most severe, can cause serious damage to both the skin and body tissue. In order to properly heal the burn and repair the tissue, a proper diet is essential.

Third-Degree Burns

• Third-degree burns are the damaging form of burn. These burns affect both layers of skin, as well as tissue, bones, muscles, and tendons.

High Calories

• A person who has a third-degree burn must have a high-calorie diet. A patient's metabolic rate increases drastically in order to heal the injury. Excess caloric intake helps speed the recovery.

High Protein

• Third-degree burns affect not only the skin but the underlying tissue. Since the body's tissue is made of protein, a high-protein diet is vital in repairing the damaged bones and muscles.

Vitamins

• Vitamin intake, including Vitamins A, C, and E, and the B-complex vitamins, are important in the healing process. Vitamin C aids in the healing of the skin by promoting new tissue growth.

Fluid Intake

• Following a burn, the blood vessels become more permeable, leading to excessive fluid loss. A burn patient should drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.

Supplements

• Dietary supplements are commonly given to burn patients to aid in the healing process. These supplements include vitamins, minerals, and Omega-3 fatty acids.