Content

• Steps
• Advice

While it can be scary and painful to treat minor burns at home, they're actually quite easy to take care of. You only need to have knowledge of burns to know how to diagnose burns and the required treatment, increase your knowledge of basic first aid.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Distinguishing Burns

1. 

   Identify minor burns. Burns are classified according to the depth and size and the percentage that your body is affected. A minor burn, often referred to as a first degree burn, is characterized by a red rash on the top layer of skin, the epidermis. This type of burn damages the epithelial layer (top) without blistering. Small burns do not affect more than 10% of the body surface.
   • A first-degree burn is characteristic of a red, painful rash. An example of a burn of this degree is a sunburn.
   • First degree burns are usually quite painful but do not affect a large area (less than 10%) and are not life threatening.

2. 

   
   
   Distinguish a first-degree burn from a more serious burn. However, there are other more serious burns and it is important to know how to distinguish them from minor burns. Even if your burn is small, if you have any of the following symptoms, think it is not a minor burn but a severe burn and you should see your doctor.
   • Second degree burns: There are two types of second-degree burns, superficial burns and deep burns. With superficial burns, you will experience redness and damage to the entire epithelium and into the second layer of skin, the dermis. Other symptoms include blistering, pain, redness, and potentially bleeding. With deep burns, complete epithelial damage to the deep connective layer of the dermis. The burn will appear white, indicating damage to the blood vessels due to impaired circulation. This type of burn may not cause pain because the nerve is already damaged. The blister may or may not be present.
   • Third degree burns: These burns affect the epidermis and dermis but also spread deep into the subcutaneous tissue. This tissue will dry out and look dry.Get medical attention if you have a third degree burn, and should go to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible as this type of burn will require surgery.

3. 

   
   
   Know when to get medical attention. Consider the following factors when you decide whether to treat the burn yourself or if you need medical treatment:
   • Level Most first-degree burns do not require medical treatment, while second- and third-degree burns actually require immediate medical attention. In addition, if you have any blisters, even minor burns, you should also see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and antibiotic treatment.
   • Species If you have a chemical burn, go to the clinic after wetting the wound under cool running water to dilute the chemicals.
   • Size - Consider the area of ​​the body surface (BSA) that has been damaged by the burn. If you burn more than 10% of the BSA, you should get medical attention. Apply the "rule of 9s," this rule divides the body into proportions: each leg accounts for 18%, each arm accounts for 9%, the front and rear body accounts for 18%, and the face accounts for 9% to the entire body surface. You can use this formula to quickly calculate how much body surface the burn covers.
   • Location - If you have genital burns (even first degree burns), you need medical attention. Eye burns should also be seen by a doctor after thoroughly rinsing the wound under cool running water for at least 5 minutes. In addition, burns to the hands, especially burns to the joints, often require medical attention.
   • Note that if you are unsure or have questions about your burn, go to the emergency room or consult your own doctor.
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Part 2 of 3: Immediate First Aid

1. 

   
   
   Cool the burn with water. The first thing you need to do to treat a minor burn is to soothe the skin with cool (not cold) water to lower the temperature. You can do this by leaving the burn under cool running water or by soaking in cool water. Soak for at least 5 minutes to decrease the temperature, so the skin will stop the burning process.
   • Make sure to remove all rings or other fastening objects from the burned area, as the affected area will swell up very quickly.
   • If the burn is too large to soak, shower and run with cool water over the burn for at least 5 minutes.
   • Instead of running water, you can also place a clean cloth soaked in cool tap water on the burn.

2. 

   Evaluate the burn. Once cooled, you will feel comfortable and be able to examine and evaluate the burn area. You will need to determine the extent of the burn as well as consider other factors, such as size, location, and type of burn. Evaluating these factors will help you determine if you can treat the burn at home or seek medical help.
   • In most cases, if the wound is minor to first degree and is not on the genitals, hands, face, or joints, you can treat and care for the burn at home.

3. 

   Pat dry area. Use a soft towel to care for, not lint. Pat gently, without rubbing, especially on blisters or skin wounds, as you won't want to peel the skin off.

4. 

   Apply the ointment. When the damaged area is dry, apply ointment in a moderate amount to cover the burn but do not rub it. Ointment may contain antibiotics, but it is not necessary. Other options are petroleum jelly or aloe vera gel. If you use aloe, make sure you use 100% pure aloe vera gel that contains no lotions and other recipes.
   • Neosporin is a good over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. If you are allergic to Neosporin, you can go to your doctor and get a prescription for medications containing bacitracin or bactroban.

5. 

   Use a protective bandage. A protective bandage made of a roll gauze can be purchased from a pharmacy. After applying the ointment, wrap the bandage around the wound. Fix the bandage with medical tape, also available at pharmacies.
   • This protective tape has two functions. First, it will serve as a protective barrier against re-injury. Second, the dressing will also help protect against infection, creating a natural barrier for the skin to avoid infection that has been damaged by burns.
   • This is not always necessary, but apply a bandage to protect the burn if you want to.
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Part 3 of 3: Wound Care

1. 

   Wash and change the dressing every day. Wash the wound every day with soap and water, apply neosporin and cover with a bandage. Continue washing and changing the dressing every day until your skin has healed. Usually no more than two weeks. Taking it daily can help prevent scarring from burned tissue.
   • Your skin may flake, meaning it will flake off. This is normal in a blistering area, and you should see the skin naturally flake off and fall off. Do not peel or break the blister. This will only aggravate, irritate and further heat the injured area.

2. 

   Watch for signs of infection every day. If you notice any symptoms of infection, you should go to the emergency room or seek immediate medical help. If you have diabetes or take steroids or are on chemotherapy or have a weak immune system for any reason, you are at risk for infection and be very careful to watch for these signs of infection. Signs of an infected wound include:
   • Fever over 38 ° C (oral transmission).
   • Increased erythema or redness of the wound. Draw a circle around the red rash with the brush, if you are unsure whether the red stain has spread. This can help you see if the infection is likely to spread.
   • The wound is watery. Find out if blue liquid is flowing from the wound.

3. 

   Do not apply any creams, lotions, or essential oils to the wound. Just apply petroleum jelly, 100% aloe vera gel, or antibiotic ointment or any prescription cream, like Silvadene burn cream, which is prescribed specifically for you by your doctor.
   • If you want to spray Solarcaine or apply any anesthetic to the burned area, you should consult your doctor before taking any medication. Usually, a small burn won't be too painful, unless it becomes infected or complicated. Persistent pain is a warning sign that you should see your doctor.

4. 

   Take a pain reliever. If the pain of the burn bothers you, you can take an anti-inflammatory pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. Check with your doctor about these medications if you are unsure of how they work and if the medication is right for you.
   • Ibuprofen (Advil) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works to reduce hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. It also reduces the hormone that causes fever.
   • Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) acts as an analgesic, helping to relieve pain by blocking pain signals in the brain. It is also an antipyretic, which has antipyretic effects.
   • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safer for children than aspirin, but it works just like aspirin.
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Advice

• If you are unsure about the severity of your burn or how to treat it, go to the emergency room or consult your doctor.