Friction burn

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A friction burn is when two surfaces rub together to cause friction, resulting in damage to one of the surfaces, which causes pain. For instance, when someone rubs themselves against a carpet, an abrasion appears on that person's skin where the stratum corneum, the stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and the stratum basale are rubbed off to reveal the dermal papillae. This may be very painful, but it is unlikely to cause bleeding.

Some friction burns can happen between the legs of most people. The medical treatment for inguinal friction burn is the application of a cream containing anti-inflammatory factors (usually cortisol) and to some degree pain killers. Because inguinal friction is usually caused by obesity, weight loss is also indicated as a prophylactic factor. The major risk in assessing friction burns is misdiagnosis, with some fungal infections.

[edit] See also

• Burn (injury)