A rug burn, known more precisely as a friction burn, is caused when a section of skin comes in contact with an abrasive surface at such a high speed that it scrapes off one or morelayers of skin. A friction burn can happen when the skin scrapes across an abrasive surface or an abrasive surface is scraped across the skin. The injury is sometimes referred to as a “skinning.”
This article describes the symptoms, causes, severity, and treatment of rug burns as well as what to expect during healing.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
How Long Does It Take for a Rug Burn to Heal?Rug burns are usually minor and heal on their own within a week. Superficial second-degree friction burns may take up to two weeks, while non-extensive third-degree burns may take around three weeks to heal. Friction burns involving larger portions of the body may take longer.
How Long Does It Take for a Rug Burn to Heal?
Rug burns are usually minor and heal on their own within a week. Superficial second-degree friction burns may take up to two weeks, while non-extensive third-degree burns may take around three weeks to heal. Friction burns involving larger portions of the body may take longer.
Causes
Friction burns and thermal burns both involve heat, but with friction burns, the heat is generated purely from the force of friction. A friction burn involves more than just an abrasion (such as a scratch) but an abrasion that occurs at such a speed that it generates heat.
The velocity of the abrasion largely influences the severity of the burn.
Examples include:
Assessing the InjuryFriction burns that occur at high speeds are more likely to cause deeper and more severe wounds. With that said, delicate areas of skin—such as the face, hands, feet, and genitals—can sustain severe injuries at lower velocities and may need to be treated in the same way as a high-speed friction burn.
Assessing the Injury
Friction burns that occur at high speeds are more likely to cause deeper and more severe wounds. With that said, delicate areas of skin—such as the face, hands, feet, and genitals—can sustain severe injuries at lower velocities and may need to be treated in the same way as a high-speed friction burn.
How Rug Burns Are Treated
At-Home Care
Most rug burns are superficial and can be treated at home in much the same way as any other type of burns, as follows:
While healing, there may be itchiness as the wound starts to dry and scab over. Do not pick or scratch at the wound as this could lead to an infection and scarring. Instead, apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) several times daily to keep the skin moist while healing.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderSeek immediate medical attention if you experience any or all of the following after getting a friction burn:Increasing pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, or swellingA pus-like dischargeA foul smell from the woundHigh fever with chillsExpanding redness around the wound, including rapidly expanding red streaks
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any or all of the following after getting a friction burn:Increasing pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, or swellingA pus-like dischargeA foul smell from the woundHigh fever with chillsExpanding redness around the wound, including rapidly expanding red streaks
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any or all of the following after getting a friction burn:
How to Treat a Burn at Home
Second- and Third-Degree Burns
Second-degree friction burns may requiredebridement(the removal of damaged tissue) and irrigation with sterile fluids to remove debris and contaminants. After cleaning, medicated topical ointments or creams would be applied along with dry sterile bandages.
Third-degree friction burns may require an overnight hospital stay. In addition to debridement and cleaning, autologousskin grafting(in which skin is taken from one part of your body and moved to another) may be needed. Heterologous skin grafting (from a cadaver) or adermo-epidermal graft(made from artificial skin) may also be used.
Plastic surgerymay be needed for certain friction burns to the face.
Summary
A rug burn, also known as a friction burn, occurs when an abrasive surface scrapes across the skin at high speed, generating heat and removing one or more layers of skin.
First-degree friction burns involve only the top layer of skin (epidermis), while second-degree friction burns involve the top and middle layers (epidermis and dermis). Third-degree friction burns are medical emergencies in which all three layers of skin (epidemic, dermis, and subcutaneous tissues) are compromised.
Natural Burn Remedies and Ointments
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jeschke MG, van Baar ME, Choudhry MA, Chung KK, Gibran NS, Logsety S.Burn injury.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2020;6(1):11. doi:10.1038/s41572-020-0145-5Additional ReadingDavidson CC, Eadie PA.Burning more than calories: treadmill friction injuries in children.Irish Medical Journal. 2009;102(10):320-3. doi:10.1007/s11552-007-9046-2Jeremijenko L, Mott J, Wallis B, Kimble R.Paediatric treadmill friction injuries.Journal Of Paediatrics And Child Health, 2009;45(5), 310-312. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2008.01329.xKlotz T, Kurmis R, Munn Z, Heath K, Greenwood J.Moisturisers in scar management following burn: A survey report.Burns. 2017;43(5), 965-972. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2017.01.021.Menon S, Ward D, Harvey J, Hei E, Holland A.Friction burns in children.Journal Of Burn Care & Research.2012;33(6), 736-740. doi:10.1097/bcr.0b013e3182504469Ortiz-Prado E, Armijos L, Iturralde, A.A population-based study of the epidemiology of acute adult burns in Ecuador from 2005 to 2014.Burns. 2015;41(3), 582-589. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2014.08.012.
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jeschke MG, van Baar ME, Choudhry MA, Chung KK, Gibran NS, Logsety S.Burn injury.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2020;6(1):11. doi:10.1038/s41572-020-0145-5Additional ReadingDavidson CC, Eadie PA.Burning more than calories: treadmill friction injuries in children.Irish Medical Journal. 2009;102(10):320-3. doi:10.1007/s11552-007-9046-2Jeremijenko L, Mott J, Wallis B, Kimble R.Paediatric treadmill friction injuries.Journal Of Paediatrics And Child Health, 2009;45(5), 310-312. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2008.01329.xKlotz T, Kurmis R, Munn Z, Heath K, Greenwood J.Moisturisers in scar management following burn: A survey report.Burns. 2017;43(5), 965-972. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2017.01.021.Menon S, Ward D, Harvey J, Hei E, Holland A.Friction burns in children.Journal Of Burn Care & Research.2012;33(6), 736-740. doi:10.1097/bcr.0b013e3182504469Ortiz-Prado E, Armijos L, Iturralde, A.A population-based study of the epidemiology of acute adult burns in Ecuador from 2005 to 2014.Burns. 2015;41(3), 582-589. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2014.08.012.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jeschke MG, van Baar ME, Choudhry MA, Chung KK, Gibran NS, Logsety S.Burn injury.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2020;6(1):11. doi:10.1038/s41572-020-0145-5
Davidson CC, Eadie PA.Burning more than calories: treadmill friction injuries in children.Irish Medical Journal. 2009;102(10):320-3. doi:10.1007/s11552-007-9046-2Jeremijenko L, Mott J, Wallis B, Kimble R.Paediatric treadmill friction injuries.Journal Of Paediatrics And Child Health, 2009;45(5), 310-312. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2008.01329.xKlotz T, Kurmis R, Munn Z, Heath K, Greenwood J.Moisturisers in scar management following burn: A survey report.Burns. 2017;43(5), 965-972. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2017.01.021.Menon S, Ward D, Harvey J, Hei E, Holland A.Friction burns in children.Journal Of Burn Care & Research.2012;33(6), 736-740. doi:10.1097/bcr.0b013e3182504469Ortiz-Prado E, Armijos L, Iturralde, A.A population-based study of the epidemiology of acute adult burns in Ecuador from 2005 to 2014.Burns. 2015;41(3), 582-589. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2014.08.012.
Davidson CC, Eadie PA.Burning more than calories: treadmill friction injuries in children.Irish Medical Journal. 2009;102(10):320-3. doi:10.1007/s11552-007-9046-2
Jeremijenko L, Mott J, Wallis B, Kimble R.Paediatric treadmill friction injuries.Journal Of Paediatrics And Child Health, 2009;45(5), 310-312. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2008.01329.x
Klotz T, Kurmis R, Munn Z, Heath K, Greenwood J.Moisturisers in scar management following burn: A survey report.Burns. 2017;43(5), 965-972. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2017.01.021.
Menon S, Ward D, Harvey J, Hei E, Holland A.Friction burns in children.Journal Of Burn Care & Research.2012;33(6), 736-740. doi:10.1097/bcr.0b013e3182504469
Ortiz-Prado E, Armijos L, Iturralde, A.A population-based study of the epidemiology of acute adult burns in Ecuador from 2005 to 2014.Burns. 2015;41(3), 582-589. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2014.08.012.
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