Practical method to deal with asphalt burns on the hands using melted butter and plastic gloves: A case report

Introduction

Burns from hot asphalt, although rare, typically occur in workers in the paving industry. Removal of asphalt, while not mandatory, improves patient comfort and allows early assessment of underlying tissue damage. Previous reports have emphasized the use of surface-active agents or butters to remove tar or asphalt from the affected area without causing further damage to the skin.

Case presentation

A 69-year-old man was working as a driver of an asphalt tanker. While working on the side of the tanker, hot asphalt splashed off the roof of the tanker's hood. He sustained burns to his left face, neck, upper and lower extremities, and hands from the hot asphalt. Melted butter was soaked into gauze and applied to asphalt-covered areas of the face, neck, body, upper and lower extremities, and hands. The butter soaked into the gauze emulsified the asphalt, and the asphalt soaked into the gauze was painlessly removed. To remove the asphalt from the fingertips, melted butter was placed in plastic gloves and the hands were dipped into the gloves so that all fingers efficiently touched the melted butter. By doing so, the asphalt on the fingertips was easily emulsified by the butter in the gloves.

Conclusion

The method of removing asphalt stuck to the hands by placing melted butter in gloves and applying the gloves to the hands should be considered as an option.