How to Treat Burns

Burns are a common but very painful injury. Mild burns may heal without much medical care. However, severe burns require special care to fight infection and reduce severe scarring. Before treating a burn, it’s important to know the type of burn — or the extent of it.

Table of Contents

Determination of Burns

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Identify first-degree burns. First-degree burns are the most common type of burns, usually caused by rapid exposure to hot objects and the sun. Lesions occur only in the outermost layer of the skin. ^{[1] X Domino Research Source , F. (nd). In The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).} These burns are usually red, slightly swollen, and may or may not be painful. This case you can treat at home because minor burns usually do not require professional treatment. The outermost layer of skin can heal on its own over time with care. ^{[2] X Research Source}

First-degree burns are classified as “minor burns” and are treated the same way. Sometimes minor burns also require special care, for example, when the whole body is sunburned, but no medical treatment is needed.

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Identify second degree burns. The skin may become more blotchy, blistered, and sore. Second-degree burns occur with rapid exposure to extremely hot objects (for example, boiling water), or prolonged exposure to hot objects or prolonged exposure to the sun. Unless the burns are on the hands, feet, groin, or on the face, you can treat them as first-degree burns. If you have a blister, don’t pop it. If broken, you need to keep it clean by rinsing with water and applying antibacterial ointment. You can use a bandage or another type of gauze to cover the area where the ointment was applied. Change the dressing every day.

Second-degree burns injure two layers of the skin. If the second-degree burn is more than 8cm wide, or is on the hands, feet, joints or genitals, or doesn’t heal for several weeks, you should see a doctor for treatment. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Identify third degree burns. Third-degree burns are the most serious and require medical attention. Third-degree burns occur with prolonged exposure to hot objects and three layers of the skin are burned, sometimes causing damage to muscles, fat, and bones. Looking at it we see a thick burn, white or black. The degree of burning pain can vary according to the extent of nerve damage in the skin layer (pain receptors). Sometimes these burns appear “wet” due to broken cells and oozing protein.

Third degree burns are always classified as severe burns and require medical attention as soon as possible. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Identify cold burns. These “burns” occur when the skin is exposed to low temperatures such as snow or ice for long periods of time. The affected area is red, white, or black, and has a burning sensation when the skin warms up. Cold “burn” is still considered a burn because it damages the tissue layers of the skin.

In most cases, cold burns need to be treated as severe burns and require medical attention. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Warm skin in 37°C to 39°C water immediately after cold exposure. ^{[6] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

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Identify chemical burns. Chemical burns are another type of burn caused by skin contact with chemicals that damage the layers of the skin. Chemical burns can appear as red areas, rashes, blisters, and open wounds on the skin. The first step is always to determine what chemical caused the burn and call a poison control center right away.

Contact a poison control center immediately if you think you have suffered a chemical burn. These burns require care to neutralize the chemical and insulate the chemical from spreading. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
Wash chemical burns with plenty of water, however, avoid water washing for burns caused by contact with dry lime or strong metals (such as sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, lithium, etc.) can react with water and cause further damage.

Treating Minor Burns

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Let cool water run over the burn. Immediately run cool water over the burn. This will help prevent further damage to the skin. Leave the burned area under cool running water for 10-15 minutes or until the pain subsides. Avoid using cold water as it can damage the skin around the burn. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

The sudden change from extreme heat to extreme cold only slows down the healing process. ^{[9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Quickly remove tight clothing and jewelry. As soon as possible or while washing the burn, remove anything that might squeeze the skin as the wound swells. Get rid of all the things that you doubt. This will help blood flow to the wound and begin the healing process. Taking off tight clothing and jewelry also helps prevent further skin damage. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Apply cold compress. Although cold water is not recommended, use cold compresses or ice wrapped in a towel. Put the gauze on the skin for about 10-15 minutes, wait for 30 minutes and apply it again to the skin for another 10-15 minutes. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Never put ice or gauze directly on the burn, as it will damage the skin. Instead, put a towel in the middle.

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Take over-the-counter pain relievers. An over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or naproxen can help relieve discomfort caused by your symptoms. If there is no relief after several hours, take another dose. Avoid giving aspirin to young children or when you have just recovered from the flu or chickenpox. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Take as directed on the medicine box. Instructions may vary depending on the medication you choose.

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Wash the burn. After washing your hands, use soap and water to clean the burn and fight infection. Apply an antibiotic such as Neosporin after washing to keep the burn clean. ^{[13] X Research Source} Aloe vera can also soothe the skin. Look for aloe vera products with few additives. Antibiotics or aloe vera will also help keep the dressing from sticking. ^{[14] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Do not pop blisters while washing the burn, as they actually help protect the skin from infection. Be careful not to burst the blisters or leak the water inside, as the body can heal minor blisters on its own. An antibiotic ointment is not needed if the blisters are not broken. But if it breaks, or the wound is open, you should take an antibiotic to fight the infection. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Gently apply the ointment to the wound and then cover it. You may not need a bandage for first-degree burns, blisters that don’t burst, or wounds that aren’t open. ^{[16] X Research Source} However, minor second-degree burns need to be covered to prevent infection. Gently place gauze over the burn and secure with medical tape. Change the dressing daily. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Do not put gauze directly on the wound. Always apply cream or ointment before applying gauze. Otherwise, when the gauze is removed, the new skin will be peeled off.
Remove gauze in the direction of hair growth around the wound. If gauze sticks to the wound, use warm water or saline solution on the sticky area to make it easier to remove. Make a salt solution by adding a teaspoon of salt to about 4 liters of water. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Avoid home remedies like egg whites, butter or tea. The internet is flooded with “miracle” burn remedies, but their effectiveness is rarely proven by scientific studies. ^{[19] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source} According to reputable sources such as the Red Cross, these treatments can make conditions worse because bacteria in the materials can lead to infection. ^{[20] X Research Sources}

Natural moisturizers like aloe or soy can help in case of sunburn.

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Observe the burn for infection. Notice the wound for color changes to red, brown, or black. Also, watch for the greenish fat around the wound. If the burn does not heal after several weeks you will need medical attention. A burn that won’t heal can be a sign of complications, an infection, or a more serious burn. ^{[21] X Research Source} Tell your doctor if you have any of the following:

warm
soft
stiffness in the area of injury
fever over 39°C or body temperature drops lower than 36.5°C (these signs indicate a serious infection, and you need immediate medical attention) ^{[22] X Research Source}

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Relieve itching with topical medications. Itching is a common complaint that many patients complain about in the early stages of healing after minor burns. Topical medications such as aloe vera or petrpeum based jelly can help soothe discomfort caused by itching. You can also take antihistamines to help relieve itching.

Treatment of Severe Burns

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Call emergency services immediately. Do not attempt to treat a severe burn at home. Severe burns require immediate medical attention. Call an ambulance, doctor, or emergency room right away. ^{[23] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Never attempt to heal a severe burn yourself. The following are simple first steps to take while waiting for an emergency:

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Remove victim from heat source. Do everything you can to prevent further burns and injuries. Stop the heat source or remove the casualty.

Never pull or move the victim by touching the burned areas. If you do, you may further damage your skin and potentially open an open wound, or widen an already open wound. This can cause terrible pain to the victim and lead to a state of shock.

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Cover the burn. Apply a cool, damp washcloth to the burned skin for protection while waiting for help. Do not use ice or immerse the burned skin in cold water. This can cause a sudden drop in body temperature or cause more damage in sensitive areas.

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Remove all irritants. If the burn is caused by a chemical, wash off any remaining chemicals on your skin. Let cool water run over the burned skin or apply cool compresses to the skin while you wait for emergency care. Do not try any home remedies on chemical burns.

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Raise the burned area above the victim’s heart. Only do this if you can elevate the wound without causing further damage. ^{[24] X Research Sources}

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Call an ambulance immediately. Watch for symptoms of shock: fast or weak pulse, low blood pressure, cold skin, disorientation or loss of consciousness, nausea, agitation. If you experience symptoms of third-degree burn shock, call 911 right away. Call an ambulance to quickly get the victim to the hospital. This is the most dangerous life-threatening situation in the already dangerous situation.

Third-degree burns can be shocking because the body loses large amounts of fluid when a large area of skin is burned. The body cannot function properly with such a small amount of fluid and blood.

Understanding How to Treat Severe Burns in Hospitals

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Remove clothing and jewelry. Victims can be quickly transferred from the hospital to a burn center for treatment. So remove all clothing or jewelry on the victim’s body if you find that they can cling to the body when the body swells.

Burns can swell to the point of causing dangerous compression of certain parts of the body (compartment syndrome). If this happens, surgery is needed to relieve the pressure and help blood flow and nerves work. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

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Identify vital signs and administer oxygen. In all severe burns, the doctor can give the victim 100% oxygen by intubating an endotracheal tube. ^{[26] X Research Source Domino, F. (nd). In The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).} Vital signs must be monitored immediately. Thanks to that, the doctor can determine the current condition of the patient and develop a specific treatment plan.

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Rehydrate the victim. Prevent fluid loss and rehydrate the body with IV fluids Determine type and amount of fluid based on burn condition. ^{[27] X Research Source Domino, F. (nd). In The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).}

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Give painkillers and antibiotics. Give pain medication so the victim can cope with the pain. Antibiotics are also important.

Antibiotics are needed because the body’s main immune system (skin) has been weakened, and medication is needed to prevent bacteria from entering and causing an infection. ^{[28] X Research Source Domino, F. (nd). In The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).}

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Adjust the patient’s diet. The patient’s diet should be high in protein, high in calories, so that the body is provided with the essential protein and energy needed to repair cells damaged by burns. ^{[29] X Research Source Domino, F. (nd). In The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).}

Advice

Victims with third degree burns or higher must be transported by ambulance (or helicopter, depending on distance) to the nearest burn center.
Wash your hands thoroughly before touching or caring for a burn. Wear gloves if possible.
Use only cool, clean, purified water OR saline solution if available for first aid for severe burns. Protect the burned area with a clean or sterile cloth during emergency calls.
This advice is not a substitute for medical care. If in doubt, consult your doctor immediately .
Cover minor or severe burns with wrap if gauze is not available. This will help avoid infections on the way to the hospital.
Chemical burns should not be submerged in water until the type of chemical has been determined, as doing so may cause the chemical to spread further on the skin. Water can aggravate some burns caused by chemicals such as lime.
Do not expose burns to toxic substances.
Applying aloe vera can soothe a burn.

Warning

See a doctor immediately after a severe burn. Severe burns do not heal on their own and require medical attention.
Burns from radioactive materials are a very different and serious form. Call emergency medical attention immediately if you suspect radiation exposure and take steps to protect yourself and the victim.

Steps