How to treat minor burns

Author: Randy Alexander
Date Of Creation: 3 April 2021
Update Date: 1 July 2024
Anonim
How to treat a first degree (minor) burn
Video: How to treat a first degree (minor) burn

Content

Knowing how to treat minor burns quickly will help you heal the burn and keep it safe. Larger burns often require medical attention; As for minor burns, learning how to properly care for them and heal them is not difficult. Learn about quick treatment, the right care after your treatment, and what home remedies you can use.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Quick treatment (simple method)

  1. Keep the burn under cold, running water. If you recently burned, place the burn under cold, running water. Cold water will quickly cool the burned area and reduce the size of the burn. However, do not use soap to wash it, but just keep the burn under running water.
    • Do not wash if the burn is more severe. If your skin is scorched or you smell bad and the smell of ash, do not wash the water, you should call 911 immediately.
    • Do not soak the burn in water. Gently wash the burn away and then pat dry with a clean towel.

  2. Cool the burn for 5-10 minutes. After cooling your skin with water, you can apply a clean cold compress to the burn to reduce swelling. This will help soothe pain, reduce swelling, and blisters that may form from small burns.
    • Some people prefer to use crushed ice cubes, bags of frozen vegetables or other frozen objects in place of a cold compress. If you choose to do this, do not place a cold object directly on the burn for more than 5-10 minutes. The burn can be numb and make you lose the ability to feel heat, meaning you run the risk of a cold burn. Use only a little ice because you won't feel it too cold.

  3. Observe the burn for a few minutes. Even if you think the burn is relatively mild, you should still keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse. Sometimes, a severe burn can become numb, causing pain to appear later. Learn about the difference between burns to plan for care: Learn the difference between burns to plan for care:
    • Burns level 1 affects only the top layer of skin, identified by redness, minor swelling, and pain. Grade 1 burns usually do not need medical attention.
    • Burns degree 2 also affects only the outer layer but is more severe, identified by red and white patches of skin, blisters, swelling and more significant pain.
    • Burns degree 3 Affects the underlying skin layer and subcutaneous fat. Some serious third-degree burns even affect muscles and bones. The hallmark is a burnt black skin or a scorched white area that can be accompanied by difficulty breathing, severe pain, and smoke inhalation.

  4. Continue using cold compresses if the pain persists. Apply a cold washcloth or other cold compress to the burn to relieve the pain. The cold temperature helps to relieve pain and swelling in the burn site. A blister-forming burn will be more painful in the long run, so keep the burn from swelling up if possible.
  5. Raise the burn higher than the heart. Sometimes, even a small burn will sting and quite painful for the first few hours. If the burn is painful, you can raise the burn site above your heart to ease the pain (if possible).
  6. Get medical attention for serious burns. All grade 3 burns require medical attention as soon as possible. Grade 2 burns larger than 7.5 cm in area, appearing on the hands, feet, face, genitals or in the main joint and sensitive area should also be examined by a doctor. advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Take care of a small burn

  1. Gently wash off the burn with soap and water. After you have managed the swelling and pain, you can wash the burn with a little mild soap and water. Dry and keep the burn site clean to avoid infection.
  2. Apply over-the-counter cream if needed. To reduce swelling and keep the burn as clean as possible, use an over-the-counter ointment or cream. Aloe vera gel or cream and low dose hydrocortisone are commonly used.
    • If blisters appear, apply topical antibiotic cream and cover the blisters with a gauze for about 10 hours before removing the bandage.
    • A mild, fragrance-free moisturizer is also sometimes used for mild burns. This product will prevent the burned skin from cracking. Let the burn heal a bit before applying moisturizer.
  3. Allow the burn to clear. The burn is too light to heal. Instead, just keep it clean and dry; The burn will heal after a few days.
    • Should use gauze to cover burns forming blisters. If it hurts, you can use a gauze bandage or bandage to cover and keep the burn safe.
  4. Do not touch the minor burn. Absolutely not squeeze when blisters form. Blisters protect the burn and heal the skin below. The blisters will go down after a few days if you keep the burned area clean and dry.
    • Large blisters should be examined by a doctor and extracted or removed if necessary. Absolutely not extract or remove blisters.
  5. Wear loose clothing around the burn. To avoid irritation, you need to keep the burned area clear and dry. Dress in cotton that fits the skin to breathe and allow air exposure of the burn.
    • If burns on fingers or hands, remove rings, bracelets, watches near or on the burn and wear short sleeves. Avoid irritating the burn if possible.
  6. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. If the burn is causing pain, you can take an analgesic such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Medications can help reduce swelling and control pain. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Use home remedies

  1. Treat burns with aloe vera gel. Aloe vera gel and moisturizer is very helpful in soothing and cooling burns. You can either use natural oils from the aloe plant or buy an aloe cream from the store.
    • Some moisturizers and lotions marketed as "aloe" actually contain only small amounts of aloe. Be sure to read the ingredients clearly to make sure not to apply scented and aluminum-containing lotions on the burn.
  2. Apply coconut oil and lavender essential oil. Lavender essential oil is believed to have therapeutic properties for minor cuts, abrasions, and minor burns that affect the outer skin layer. However, essential oils can irritate the skin, so mix with an oil that has soothing properties like coconut oil (which also has antibacterial properties).
    • The theory is that a French scientist is at the forefront of using lavender essential oil as a home remedy when he does himself in the laboratory. He dipped his hands in a jar containing lavender essential oil and the burn healed quickly.
  3. Dab vinegar on the burn. Some people claim that a small amount of diluted vinegar can help control pain and heal minor burns quickly. If you do burn, rinse the burn off quickly with cool water, then use a wet towel to dab a few drops of vinegar on the burn. Use a washcloth similar to a cold compress for the burned area.
  4. Use sliced ​​potatoes. In rural areas, potato slices are sometimes used instead of bandages, especially for burns. The peel of the potato has antibacterial properties and doesn't stick to the wound, making it painless.
    • If you try this, make sure to clean the wound before and after using the potatoes. In addition, the potato should be washed off before applying it to the burn. Do not leave potato residue on the burn.
  5. Use only home remedies for microscopic burns. If the water is cool, the over-the-counter medicine and time can't heal the burn, seek medical attention. Absolutely do not use unproven home remedies for severe burns.
    • Fat wax or Vaseline is often thought to have burn-relieving properties, but this is not true. Vaseline is a moisture barrier and can cause a burn to dry out. Vaseline does not have real healing properties. It is not recommended to apply Vaseline on burns.
    • Some people think that toothpaste, butter, and other kitchen ingredients can be applied to the burn. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of these ingredients. Absolutely do not apply toothpaste on the burn.
    advertisement

Advice

  • Instead, apply a cold, damp washcloth to the burn. Continue wetting when the towels warm or dry. Place a towel on the burn until the pain subsides.