Treating and Preventing Cement (Concrete) Chemical Burns

Contact with wet cement can produce a chemical burn that may not show up immediately and can worsen over time. Some incidents require urgent medical care.

Does concrete burn?

Cement burns, also referred to as concrete burns, are chemical injuries caused by cement exposure.

The terms “concrete” and “cement” are frequently used as if they mean the same thing, but there’s a distinction. Cement is a component that comprises roughly 10 to 15 percent of concrete. It hardens over time as it reacts with moisture and other elements.

Concrete is the blend of cement with sand, gravel, and rock fragments.

When wet cement contacts your skin, chemicals interact with the water molecules in your skin. This interaction produces alkaline compounds that can degrade skin tissue. The longer cement remains on your skin, the more severe the burn can become.

Read on to learn when you’re more vulnerable to a concrete burn and how to manage it.

What causes cement burns?

Adding water to cement powder converts a compound called calcium oxide into calcium hydroxide. This transformation raises the pH of the cement.

The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is from 1 to 14. A pH of 1 indicates a strong acid, 7 is neutral, and 14 is a strong base. The normal pH of skin averages about 4.7. Substances at the high or low extremes can cause chemical burns that harm your skin.

Chemicals in wet cement react with sweat and water in your skin and form ions composed of oxygen and hydrogen molecules. These ions dissolve proteins and collagen fibers, break down fats, and dehydrate cells.

The longer wet cement remains in contact with skin, the more prolonged the reaction and the worse the injury. In an earlier 2007 study, researchers examined cement burn cases at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, Ireland from 1996 to 2005 and found that the average exposure time for patients admitted to the burn unit was 60 minutes.

Is it safe to leave handprints in wet cement?

Short contact with cement is unlikely to cause a concrete burn if you wash your hands immediately with water and a pH-neutral or mildly acidic soap. Nevertheless, it’s safer to avoid touching wet concrete unnecessarily.

If you do get cement on your hands, rinse it off before symptoms appear. According to Poison Control, burns often continue to worsen even after the cement is washed away.

Situations that pose a higher risk for cement or concrete burns

Cement burns frequently happen when cement becomes trapped in places like gloves or boots, where it can go unnoticed and delay treatment. Watches, rings, and other jewelry can similarly trap cement.

A 2015 case report explains a 28-year-old man who developed severe burns after kneeling on cement for 3 hours while resurfacing his basement floor. The authors note that most concrete burns affect the lower limbs, especially around the knee, ankle, and foot. In developed countries, many concrete-burn cases involve construction workers or people handling cement at home.

Other case studies

Poison Control summarizes two instances where emergency care was required after cement exposure.

In the first, a 2-year-old girl poured a bag of dry cement over herself and experienced coughing, choking, and vomiting; these symptoms resolved about 3 hours after she arrived at the emergency department.

In the second, a 57-year-old man developed deep burns on both knees after kneeling in concrete while pouring it out.

A 2013 case report recounts a 28-year-old man who entered a cement mixer and remained inside for 3 to 4 hours before being found. He died 13 days after hospital admission due to multiple organ failure related to his burns, ingestion of concrete, and ensuing complications.

What does a chemical burn look like?

Chemical burns often don’t become apparent immediately after exposure. It can be hard to realize that concrete caused your injury since the contact might have happened hours earlier. Burns typically emerge slowly and progress over time.

Depending on how severe the burn is, possible symptoms include:

• redness
• itching
• pain
• blister formation
• scabbing
• drying of the skin

Concrete burn treatment

Below are steps you and medical providers can take to treat concrete burns.

First aid

As soon as you notice cement on your skin, remove jewelry, protective equipment, and clothing soaked in concrete. Brush off any dry cement from the skin and flush the affected area with lukewarm water for about 20 minutes.

Seek medical care after rinsing.

Concrete burn neutralizer at home

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration suggests applying diluted vinegar or another acidic agent such as citrus juice to help neutralize the burn and limit further damage.

Avoid putting creams or lotions on the burn unless a doctor tells you to.

Medical treatment

Inform healthcare staff that the injury involves cement when you arrive at a clinic or hospital. They will irrigate the burn again, dress the wound, and may prescribe antibiotics to reduce infection risk.

If the burn is deep, spans a large area, or encircles an entire limb, hospitalization is commonly required.

Clinicians may perform debridement to remove dead tissue, followed by a skin graft if necessary.

When to see a doctor

Medical emergencySeek urgent medical care if the burn is larger than 3 inches across. Also get emergency help for burns that cause severe pain or affect the face, genitals, hands, or feet.

Preventing concrete burns

You can lower your risk of concrete burns by:

• wearing appropriate safety gear such as safety glasses, gloves, long pants and sleeves, and knee pads when handling concrete
• using waterproof boots tall enough to keep concrete from spilling over the top — tuck pants into boots or tape the seam to form a seal
• wearing gloves that fit properly
• removing any concrete splashed on your skin as soon as you notice it
• avoiding getting concrete on your skin when taking off work clothes
• minimizing unnecessary contact with wet concrete
• not wearing jewelry or watches while working with cement

Takeaway

Concrete burns result from chemicals in wet cement. If wet concrete contacts your skin, rinse it off promptly with water and a pH-neutral or slightly acidic soap. Burns often develop gradually, and delaying treatment increases their severity. Symptoms can continue to worsen even after rinsing away the cement.