Chemical burn overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
A chemical burn occurs when living tissue is exposed to a reactive chemical substance such as a strong acid or base. The main types of irritant and/or corrosive products are acids, bases, oxidizers, solvents, and reducing agents.
Chemicals that touch skin can lead to a reaction on the skin, throughout the body, or both.
Chemical exposure is not always obvious. One should suspect chemical exposure if an otherwise healthy person becomes ill for no apparent reason, particularly if an empty chemical container is found nearby.
Exposure to chemicals at work over a long period of time can cause changing symptoms as the chemical builds up in the person's body.
Classification
Chemical burns follow standard burn classification and may cause extensive tissue damage.