If you can treat a superficial burn quickly, you will be able to heal and not make the wound worse. Even if the most severe burns always need medical attention, it will not be a difficult task to learn how to manage and treat milder burns correctly. Therefore, learn the fastest treatments, the most appropriate treatments during the recovery period and the home remedies you can use.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Quick Treatments (Easy Method)
Step 1. Place the burn under cold running water
If you've just burned yourself, put the affected area under cold water - you'll be able to cool it quickly and minimize the size of the burn. Do not use soap, as it will be sufficient to wet it with water.
- Do not use this method if the burn is severe. If you see that the area is hot or dark and you smell burning, avoid the water and call 118.
- Do not immerse the burned area in water. Gently rinse your skin, then pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
Step 2. Apply the ice pack to the burn for 5-10 minutes
After cooling the skin with water, you can apply a cold compress to the burn to reduce swelling. It will help relieve pain and minimize swelling and blisters that may form when you get a superficial burn.
- Cold compresses are only used to cool the burn in the first 10 minutes after the injury. After 10 minutes, a tablet may relieve the pain, but it will not cure the burn.
- Avoid using ice cubes, bags of frozen vegetables, or other types of frozen food as a substitute for a clean cold compress. Burns can cloud your sensitivity to heat, which means you risk causing chilblains (extreme cold sore).
Step 3. Look at the burned area after a few minutes
Even if you think the burn isn't that important, keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse. Sometimes, severe burns can numb the skin, becoming painful only later. Find out the difference between the various types of burns to apply the necessary care:
- The first degree burns they affect only the upper epidermal layer and are characterized by redness, swelling and mild pain. They usually do not require medical attention.
- Even the second degree burns they affect only the upper layer of the epidermis, but are more severe, as they are characterized by red and white patches of skin, blistering, swelling and more severe pain.
- The third degree burns damage the lower layers of the dermis and the underlying fat. In severe cases they cause damage to muscles or bones. They are characterized by black or white burns and may be accompanied by difficulty in breathing, severe pain and inhalation of smoke.
Step 4. Continue applying cold packs if pain persists
Use a cold washcloth or other sanitary device on the affected area to relieve pain. The cold helps reduce both pain and swelling. If any blisters form, the burn will hurt longer, so it's important to avoid swelling if possible.
Step 5. Lift the burned area higher than the heart position
Sometimes, even a mild burn can begin to throb and trigger severe pain in the first few hours. If it hurts, you can relieve your pain by possibly raising the burned area above the level of the heart.
Step 6. See your doctor if the burn is severe
All third-degree burns need medical attention as soon as possible. It is preferable to refer to the doctor even those of second degree larger than 7 cm or occurred on hands, feet, face, genitals, larger joints and sensitive areas.
Method 2 of 3: Treating Superficial Burns
Step 1. Gently clean the area with soap and water
Once the swelling and pain have subsided, clean the burn with a little water and mild soap. Dry the area and keep it clean to avoid any infections.
Step 2. If necessary, apply a topical ointment that does not require a prescription
To reduce swelling and keep the burn area clean, it would be a good idea to use an ointment or conditioner that you can buy at any drugstore. The use of gels or creams that contain aloe vera or those with low doses of hydrocortisone is often recommended.
- If blisters form, use a topical antibiotic cream and bandage it with a bandage for about 10 hours before removing it.
- Sometimes perfumed moisturizing products are applied to superficial burns. They prevent burnt skin from cracking. Let the burn heal a bit before applying a moisturizer.
Step 3. Leave the burn uncovered
To speed up the healing of a mild burn, it is best not to cover it. If you keep it dry and clean, it will heal within a few days.
Typically, if burns involve blistering, they should be covered with gauze, making sure the wound breathes. If you feel pain, you can use gauze or a band-aid, avoiding them tightening, to cover and protect the burned area
Step 4. Avoid touching the small blisters
Never try to squeeze blisters when they form. The bubbles protect the burned area and help the underlying skin to heal. They will go away within a few days, as long as the area is kept clean and dry.
Larger blisters should be checked by a doctor, who may decide to cut or remove them if necessary. Never try to do this alone
Step 5. Wear loose fitting clothing around the burn
To prevent the affected area from becoming irritated, make sure it remains uncovered and dry. Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing that allows the wound to breathe by letting the air get to the burn.
If you have burned your finger or hand, remove any rings, bracelets, watches and short-sleeved shirt holders. Try not to shake the limb if possible
Step 6. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed
If the burn is painful, take a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It can help you reduce swelling and keep pain under control. Follow the instructions on the package insert.
Method 3 of 3: Use Home Remedies
Step 1. Treat the burn with an aloe vera based gel
Moisturizing gels and creams that contain aloe vera are useful for soothing burns and getting some cooling. You can use natural oil extracted from the same plant or buy aloe vera cream at the supermarket.
Some lotions and moisturizers advertised as aloe vera products actually contain only a small percentage of this plant. Read the ingredients and make sure you don't cover the burn with scented aluminum lotions
Step 2. Apply coconut oil and lavender oil
Lavender essential oil is thought to have therapeutic properties that allow it to heal minor cuts, abrasions and burns that occurred on the upper layer of the dermis. However, essential oils can irritate the skin, so it's important to combine them with a soothing oil, such as coconut extract, which has antimicrobial properties.
It is said that the French scientist who pioneered the use of lavender oil as a home remedy once burned himself in the laboratory and dipped his hand in a basin full of lavender oil, healing quickly
Step 3. Blot the burned area with vinegar
Some people think that a small amount of diluted vinegar helps control pain and heal superficial burns quickly. If you have burned yourself, immediately rinse the area with cold water, then use a wet cloth soaked in a few drops of vinegar. Apply it to the affected area as if it were a cold pack.
Step 4. Use a sliced potato
Sometimes this remedy is used in rural regions instead of bandages, especially on burns. The peel of the potato, in fact, is antibacterial and does not stick to the wound, increasing the pain.
If you try this method, be sure to thoroughly clean the wound before and after, and rinse the potato before applying it, taking care not to leave any residue on the wound
Step 5. Use home remedies only if the burn is minor
If a burn cannot be cured by applying cold water, using over-the-counter medications, and allowing some time to pass, you should see a doctor. Never try to use home remedies when the burn is severe.
- Everyone thinks that petroleum jelly soothes pain from burns, but that's not true. It forms a barrier against moisture and thus helps to dry the wound. However, it does not possess any therapeutic properties. Therefore, it is not recommended to apply it on sunburn.
- Some people find it helpful to apply toothpaste, butter, and other kitchen products to burns. The use of these remedies is not supported by any evidence. So, don't use toothpaste on burns.
