Whether you burned your hand with a pot or scalded your leg with a spilled cup of coffee, a burn can be serious. If the burned area is larger than 3 inches in diameter and has caused blisters on the skin, see a doctor as soon as possible for treatment. Otherwise, you can treat the burn at home, according to the Mayo Clinic. Keep items on hand to treat a burn at all times, and treat the burn as soon as it occurs. If the burn seems infected, is significantly swollen or is not healing, consult a doctor.
Step 1
Place the afflicted area under a light stream of cool, running water for 10 to 15 minutes, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Rinsing the burned area will help minimize the heat on the skin, preventing further damage. Do not rinse with cold water.
Step 2
Wrap the burned area loosely with clean gauze. Avoid puffy gauze or a bandage with a lot of loose cotton, which can get stuck on the burned area. Once you have wrapped the bandage, readjust it as little as possible.
Step 3
Take over-the-counter ibuprofen, acetaminophen or aspirin to help reduce the swelling and pain of the burn. Take the medicine exactly according to the label's instructions, which is usually about every four hours.
Step 4
Leave the burn alone for 24 hours, recommends "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies." Allow the burn to heal on its own, undisturbed, for one full day.
Step 5
Gently wash the burn once a day with soap and water starting 24 hours after the burn has occurred, says emergency medical technician John Gillies, program director for health services at the Colorado Outward Bound School in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies." Washing the wound will help remove germs and minimize infection.
Tips and Warnings
- Do not put butter or oil on a burn. Do not pop blisters.
- Consult a doctor if the blisters on your burn are filled with a green or yellow liquid.
Things You'll Need
- Gauze
- Over-the-counter pain reliever
- Soap
References
- Mayo Clinic: Burns: First Aid
- "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies"; Deborah Tkac; 1990
