Immediately immerse the burn in cool tap water or apply cold, wet compresses. Do this for about 10 minutes or until the pain subsides. Apply petroleum jelly two to three times daily. Do not apply ointments, toothpaste or butter to the burn, as these may cause an infection.
When a burn has open blisters, a person may want to use antibiotic creams and ointments. Antibiotic creams can help prevent infection in the wound and help the burn heal faster. Some topical creams also contain pain-relieving ingredients that may ease discomfort.
Superficial burns—3 to 6 days. Superficial partial-thickness burns—usually less than 3 weeks. Deep partial-thickness burns—usually more than 3 weeks. Full-thickness burns—heal only at the edges by scarring without skin grafts.
Burns are now commonly classified as superficial, superficial partial thickness, deep partial thickness and full thickness. A systematic approach to burn care focuses on the six “Cs”: clothing, cooling, cleaning, chemoprophylaxis, covering and comforting (i.e., pain relief).
The size of a burn can be quickly estimated by using the "rule of nines." This method divides the body's surface area into percentages. The front and back of the head and neck equal 9% of the body's surface area. The front and back of each arm and hand equal 9% of the body's surface area.
You may put a thin layer of ointment, such as petroleum jelly or aloe vera, on the burn. The ointment does not need to have antibiotics in it. Some antibiotic ointments can cause an allergic reaction. Do not use cream, lotion, oil, cortisone, butter, or egg white.
Second-degree burns (also known as partial thickness burns) involve the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of skin. The burn site appears red, blistered, and may be swollen and painful.
Immediately applying cool running water is believed to mitigate the severity of the injury by dissipating thermal energy, stabilizing blood vessels, reducing the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals and influencing cellular responses. “It's a high-value, low-cost way to minimize complications from burn injuries.
Ice. Although it sounds like common sense to put ice or ice cold water on a burn, this remedy should be skipped. Ice decreases blood flow to the affected area, which can reverse the healing process. It also numbs the pain from the burn, so you might not notice that the skin is getting too cold.
Keep the wound covered with a bandage. Burns heal better in a moist, covered environment.
Wounds heal faster if they are kept warm. Try to be quick when changing dressings. Exposing a wound to the open air can drop its temperature and may slow healing for a few hours. Don't use antiseptic creams, washes or sprays on a chronic wound.
After cooling, dry the burn gently and apply a layer of NEOSPORIN® + Burn Relief First Aid Antibiotic Ointment. Protect the burn from rubbing and pressure with non-stick gauze that can be held in place with tape or wrap.
Short-term treatment choices include home remedies such as cool water, aloe vera, honey, calendula, and OTC medications.
Don't: Use very cold water or ice on a burn. It can cause more skin damage. Do: (In the event of a severe burn) apply a clean, dry cloth to the burned area after it is cooled and seek medical care. Don't: (In the event of a severe burn) apply ointments, jellies, sprays, first aid creams or butter.
Call 911 to seek immediate medical attention for second- and third-degree burns. Paramedics are trained on how best to transport burn victims. But before a burn victim goes to an emergency room, taking a few steps can decrease the severity of the injury.
NEOSPORIN® Burn Relief First Aid Antibiotic Ointment helps relieve minor burn pain while allowing burns to heal properly by preventing infection. This topical first-aid ointment features a maximum-strength, no-sting formula to help soothe and reduce pain of minor burns, such as cooking burns.
The skin may appear stiff, waxy white, leathery or gray. These types of burns often need skin grafts to close the wound.
Cover the burn with a clean bandage. Wrap it loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the area, reduces pain and protects blistered skin. If needed, take a nonprescription pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
Aloe gel, made from the central part of the aloe leaf, is a common household remedy for minor cuts and burns, as well as sunburns. It can be found in many commercial skin lotions and cosmetics. Aloe contains active compounds that may reduce pain and inflammation and stimulate skin growth and repair.
Always keep in mind the golden rule of burn management: Any burns that exceed the size of the palm of the hand, has blisters, burns to the genital area, or face should seek immediate medical attention. Know how to treat a burn and other injuries.
Call 911 or your local emergency services number, or seek immediate medical attention with the following: A partial-thickness or full-thickness burn that's on your eyes, ears, face, hands, feet or around your genitals.
Palm method – Small or patchy burns can be approximated by using the surface area of the patient's palm. The palm of the patient's hand, excluding the fingers, is approximately 0.5 percent of the total body surface area, and the entire palmar surface, including fingers, is 1 percent in children and adults [11-13].