What Are Concrete Burns?

Concrete burns are skin injuries caused by contact with concrete in its unsolidified state. These are chemical burns, resulting from the high alkaline content of wet concrete as it interacts with our naturally acidic skin. Concrete burns are also called cement burns because cement is the primary irritant in concrete, mortar, and grout. The inclusion of abrasives, such as sand and rock, along with toxic heavy metals in some building materials further increases the likelihood of serious skin damage, including ulcerations and precancerous conditions.

Anyone who works in construction, or handles concrete in a non-professional home setting, is at risk for chemical burns. If you develop evidence of skin injury after working with concrete, seek help from an appropriate source, such as a Baptist Health urgent-care or emergency medical facility.

Types of Concrete Burns

Medical science recognizes four categories of concrete burns, shown here in increasing order of severity:

• Mild Irritant Contact Dermatitis (ICD): Mild ICD is the least serious condition, consisting primarily of dry, flaky skin.
• Acute Irritant Contact Dermatitis (ICD): Acute ICD is more serious, typically marked by discoloration, blistering, and some degree of pain. If left untreated, acute ICD can lead to the development of a concrete allergy.
• Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD): ACD is an overly sensitive immune response to the presence of concrete. Like other allergies, it can be difficult to treat.
• Caustic Burns: The most serious cases are those resulting in second- and third-degree burns. Injury can extend to the bone, with a medical response involving hospitalization, skin grafts, and, in the worst situations, amputation.

Symptoms

A concrete burn’s extent depends on how long skin is in contact with the irritant. Possible symptoms include:

• Itchiness
• Dryness or flakiness
• Blistering
• Redness or discoloration
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Ulcerations
• Pain

Causes

Concrete in its finished state is rough and dense but also chemically inert, which limits its interaction with surrounding environments (including skin). This is not the case with wet concrete, which is a mixture of cement, water, and aggregate (sand, gravel, and/or crushed rock). Concrete can damage human tissue in three ways:

• High alkaline content: The alkaline content of concrete is extremely corrosive. In contact with human skin, it produces a toxic reaction which lessens the skin’s ability to withstand microbes and moisture, leaving it more susceptible to damage.
• Presence of abrasives: Cement isn’t the only problematic component of concrete. The abrasiveness of the rock and sand aggregate can scratch and irritate the skin’s surface, intensifying the impact of the alkaline chemistry.
• Inclusion of heavy metals: Cements sometimes contain heavy metals, such as hexavalent chromium, an ingredient in Portland cement. Hexavalent chromium is a toxic carcinogen, meaning that it has been identified by science as a cancer-causing agent.

The presence of cement in mortar and grout makes prolonged exposure to either of these a health concern as well.

Treatment

To treat a burn, begin by removing all clothing or jewelry that has come into contact with the irritant. Wash off any concrete remaining on your skin and then flush the area with warm water for twenty or more minutes. Applying dilute vinegar or a similarly acidic substance can help counteract the alkaline nature of the chemical reaction.

As your next step, seek professional care. Provide the physician at the urgent-care or emergency medical facility with the circumstances of your injury. He or she will administer an antibiotic and dress the wound in sterile bandages. Hospitalization may follow, if a procedure for removing dead skin layers, called debridement, or a skin graft is required.

It can be difficult to know whether a condition of this type calls for an urgent or emergency-care response. If the burn is longer than three inches across, or you are in considerable pain, go to the nearest emergency room.

Recovery

The recovery period for concrete burns depends on degree of injury. If properly treated, a minor burn will heal in a week or two. More serious burns can take several weeks to heal and require appropriate levels of wound care. The recovery period for the most severe cases – those involving extensive tissue damage, skin grafts, and surgical repair work – can take months and sometimes includes physical therapy.

Preventing Concrete Burns

The prevention of concrete burns is possible. There are several worthwhile steps that you can take to reduce the risk of coming into prolonged contact with chemically active concrete:

• Avoid contact with wet concrete if at all possible.
• If you work with concrete, wear protective clothing that covers your body. This includes long pants, long-sleeve shirts, gloves, waterproof boots, a head covering, and safety goggles. Any clothes item with tears or obvious signs of wear should be replaced.
• Remove immediately any concrete in contact with your skin.
• Make certain that your worksite has medical supplies for treating potential concrete burns. Know the locations of first-aid kits and how to identify and apply appropriate cleaning agents and pH-neutralizers.
• Be careful after leaving a job site when handling any clothing that may have been exposed to concrete.
• Make certain that you’re properly trained in the handling of concrete according to Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and industry-established safety standards.

Find a Location Near You

Most people understand the health dangers posed by electricity, but fewer are aware of concrete’s ability to cause chemical injury and skin disfigurement. If you or a loved one works with concrete, either professionally or occasionally, you might want to learn prevention and first-aid basics. If you develop a concrete burn, get professional medical help. Get directions to a Baptist Health facility near you.