Immediate care of a burn consists of cooling the affected area. Superficial burns heal on their own within 2 weeks with routine wound care and protection from infection. Deeper burns require medical attention, including nutritional support and assessment of lung function, and may require skin grafts and vascular or reconstructive surgery. The arteries supply blood, which carries the oxygen that cells need to live. If arterial circulation is partially or completely blocked, the tissue will begin to die, resulting in a painful wound.
Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the lungs.
Veins contain valves that prevent backflow, but when these valves become incompetent, too much blood remains in the tissues. This condition is called congestion. Venous ulcers are the most common wounds affecting the legs, and are frequently found on the ankles. They are shallow, not too painful, and may have a weeping discharge. Although venous valves cannot be repaired, the return of blood through the veins can be improved by physical activity and by compression, which can be supplied by compression stockings, dressings, or mechanical pumping devices.