Chemical Burn Symptoms

All chemical burns should be considered medical emergencies.

Most chemical burns occur on the face, eyes, and arms and legs. Usually a chemical burn will be relatively small and will require only outpatient treatment. Chemical burns can be deceiving, however. Some agents can cause deep tissue damage not readily apparent when you first look at it.

• Tissue damage from chemical burns depends on several factors.
  
  
  • The strength or concentration of the agent
    
    
  • The site of contact (eye, skin, mucous membrane)
    
    
  • Whether swallowed or inhaled
    
    
  • Whether or not skin is intact
    
    
  • With how much of the agent you came into contact
    
    
  • The duration of exposure
    
    
  • How the chemical works
  
  
• Signs and symptoms of chemical burns include the following:
  
  
  • Redness, irritation, or burning at the site of contact
    
    
  • Pain or numbness at the site of contact
    
    
  • Formation of blisters or black dead skin at the contact site
    
    
  • Vision changes if the chemical gets into your eyes
    
    
  • Cough or shortness of breath
  
  
• In severe cases, you may develop any of the following:
  
  
  • Low blood pressure
    
    
  • Faintness, weakness, dizziness
    
    
  • Shortness of breath or severe cough
    
    
  • Headache
    
    
  • Muscle twitching or seizures
    
    
  • Cardiac arrest or irregular heartbeat
  
  
• Chemical burns can be very unpredictable. Death from a chemical injury, although rare, can occur.