Adult Skin Problems Slideshow Pictures Gallery of Skin Problems and Image Collection

Medical Author:

Timothy Price, MD

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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When to Seek Medical Care

For a high-voltage shock, seek care at a hospital's Emergency Department. Following a low-voltage shock, call the doctor for the following reasons:

• If it has been more than 5 years since the affected person's last tetanus booster
• Burns that are not healing well
• Burns with increasing redness, soreness, or drainage
• Any electric shock in a woman who is pregnant

A person shocked by high voltage (500 volts or more) should be evaluated in the Emergency Department. It may be prudent to get prehospital care, usually obtained by calling 911. Following a low-voltage shock, a person go to the Emergency Department for the following concerns:

• Any noticeable burn to the skin
• Any period of unconsciousness
• Any numbness, tingling, paralysis, vision, hearing, or speech problems
• Any electric shock if a woman is more than 20 weeks' pregnant
• Any other worrisome symptoms