How to Treat Burn Injuries

A burn injury can come from liquids, electric shocks, chemicals, and flames. A burn injury, especially if severe, may take awhile to heal and may leave scars. Burns are classified by how deep they are and how much tissue is affected. First degree burns present with mild swelling, skin redness and a little pain. Second degree burns are associated with red skin blisters that open, ooze tissue fluid and are moderately painful. Third degree burns destroy deep layers of the skin, giving it a dark brown or charred appearance, and are extremely painful unless nerves have been damaged. You can treat first degree burns yourself. However, if you should receive a second or third degree burn or burns in your face, hands, feet or genitals, get medical attention immediately. For a first degree burn, follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Skin ointment
• Antibacterial soap
• Pain reliever
• Sterile pads

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Instructions

• 1

  Cool the burned area. Place the burned area under cold running water for 15 minutes. Cooling the burned area will decrease the swelling by conducting heat away from the affected area. Never apply ice on a burn since it can cause frostbite.

• 2

  Clean the burned area. Wash the affected area with antibacterial soap (being careful not to scrub the area too hard) to prevent infection and scar marks. Clean the area before applying skin ointment or bandages.

• 3

  Apply over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to the affected area. Ointment hastens healing and prevents infection, which can cause skin inflammation and a bigger scar. Apply the ointment after bathing and changing new bandages.

• 4

  Wrap the burned area with a sterile gauze pad. Covering the burned area helps lessen pain, protects skin blisters and prevents airborne dust and particles from sticking to the burnt area. Apply sterile gauze pads after cleaning and applying ointment.

• 5

  Take a pain reliever to reduce pain in the affected area. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin can provide pain relief. Take a tablet as directed until the burn is completely healed.