Burn eschar

Burn eschar refers to the devitalized, necrotic tissue that develops on the surface of the skin following a significant thermal, chemical, or electrical burn (StatPearls, 2023). It is primarily composed of denatured extracellular matrix proteins, particularly collagen, which have undergone coagulative necrosis due to the initial insult (PubMed, PMID: 30243544). Although it may initially act as a temporary physical barrier, the eschar is avascular and serves as a potent medium for microbial growth, increasing the risk of sepsis and inhibiting wound contraction and epithelialization (NIH, 2022). Management of burn eschar is a critical component of burn care, typically involving surgical excision or enzymatic debridement to remove the necrotic layer and prepare the wound bed for grafting or spontaneous healing. Pharmacological agents like bromelain-derived enzymes (e.g., Anacaulase-bcbd) or collagenases are used to selectively liquefy the eschar while sparing viable dermis (FDA, 2022). The removal of eschar is essential to reduce the inflammatory load and prevent the development of burn wound sepsis.

Other names

Necrotic burn tissueBurn crustCoagulated necrotic tissueThermal eschar

Enzymatic debridement through the selective proteolysis of denatured collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins within the necrotic tissue, facilitating its separation from the viable wound bed.