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How Do You Care for a Burn?

Home » Common Ailments » Burn Care » How Do You Care for a Burn?

If and when a burn occurs, the most important thing to remember is to act quickly and appropriately. Quick treatment can prevent the burn from becoming worse, while incorrect remedies can also worsen a burn. Take action as quickly as possible, because damage to the skin can continue even after the heat source has been removed. If you don't act right away, the damage will be irreversible.

If you feel you have received a first degree burn, the care is easy. Cover the burn with a cool, wet towel or soak the burned area in cold water for about five minutes. Contrary to popular belief, it is important not to ice the burn as ice can further damage your skin. Next, cover the burn with a clean, sterile cloth, but keep in mind that friction against the cloth can make the burn worse. Do not apply a band-aid or other adhesive, as you could run the risk of tearing away skin when removing the bandage. It is okay to take an anti-inflammatory pill or aspirin to help with any pain or discomfort. Your skin will probably feel tight and maybe even itchy over the next few days. It is okay to use burn cream, aloe or moisturizer to take care of it, and the burn should heal itself in a few days to a week.

If you feel you have received a more serious burn, then don't take chances and go straight to the hospital or doctor's office. Immediate action can prevent a lot of unnecessary damage and trained medical staff will assist you in the proper care. You will know if your burn is serious by seeing if any blisters result. If your burn involved clothing, do not try and remove the clothing if it is stuck to the burn. This could peel off important skin and/or tissue and make the situation much worse. If you must remove the clothing, cut it away.

One of the most common signs of a second or third degree burn is a blister. It is important that you resist the urge to pop the blisters as well apply any type of cream - even burn cream - to the blisters immediately after the incident occurs. The best type of immediate care is to apply a smooth, dampened fabric to cover the burn. Or, if nothing like this is available, run the burn under cool water. You will want to cool the burn down so that is does not do any more damage to your skin. Remember, do not apply ice to it.

If the burn is located on the face, be especially careful because the skin on the face is extremely sensitive. The skin here is very susceptible to scarring if it is damaged by a careless touch. If you are burned around your eyes or mouth and are have trouble opening them, stay as still as possible. Even if you as much as blow on blisters that appear on the face, they can break and make the area vulnerable to infection. Do not use band-aids, creams or oils - at this point these things can potentially make the burn worse. The best thing to do is cover the burn with a smooth, cool, damp cloth.

If possible, elevate the burned area so that it is higher than your heart. However, if it is your neck that is burned, do not elevate the head because the airway may collapse.

If you are witnessing a serious burn on another person, keep them conscious and talking to you. This will help prevent them from going into shock. Signs of shock include pale and clammy skin, loss of consciousness or a dropping pulse.

Next Page: Scarring Potential and Healing Time

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