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Burns
Some minor burns can be treated at home. If a burn becomes infected, though, a trip to urgent care may be in your future. Make a reservation online.
The most common causes of burns are scalding hot liquids, open flames, electrical burns and chemical burns. The American Burn Association says that 72% of all minor burns occur at home.
Minor Burns and Major Burns
Like many conditions, burns are classified by severity:
- First-degree only affects the skin’s outermost layer. They cause short-term pain and swelling, and skin may be red. Superficial burns impact the top layer of the skin.
- Second-degree reaches the dermis, or second layer of skin underneath the outer layer. These burns are painful and skin can be shiny and red. If blisters form and open, the situation can be more serious.
- Third-degree destroys both layers of skin and can harm sweat glands, nerve endings and hair follicles. Injured or burned skin may look white or blackened and must receive emergency care.
A major burn requires emergency care. A second-degree burn that’s bigger than three inches wide is more serious if it’s on the face, feet, hands or groin. All third-degree burns are dangerous and damage layers of skin but may also harm bones and tendons that affect the nerve endings. Third-degree burns take a long time to heal and may produce scarring.
Treating minor burns at home
Treating the burn area promptly can help prevent complications and promote healing.
- Run the area under cool (not cold) water and soak for 10-15 minutes.
- Depending on the burn location, you might cover it with a sterile bandage. Wrap it loosely to avoid pressure on the skin.
- Don’t break any forming blisters because they protect against infection.
- Ibuprofen may alleviate mild pain. Talk to your doctor about it.
- In the future, use water-resistant sunscreen to prevent scarring.
Should you put petroleum jelly on a burn?
No, don’t apply petroleum jelly to fresh burns or open wounds because it traps heat and bacteria.
Used in later stages of healing, petroleum jelly can act as a skin barrier to prevent bacteria. Petroleum jelly on a closed, healing wound may keep the surrounding skin moist to avoid cracking and scarring.
