How to Treat First Degree Burns
A first degree burn results from spending a little too much time in the sun. Or, if you have been boiling water and the steam happens to find it's way to your skin making it red and causing a burning sensation, that's a first degree burn. Here are a few tips on making that burn feel a whole lot better.
Run that burn under cold water as fast as you can. Let the cold water run on it for no less than five minutes. We need to cool it down quickly so the burn stops immediately.
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Take a couple of Ibuprofen pills to ease the pain and swelling. Keep in mind that if the burn is very small there is no need for this step. Proceed with this step only if it is a large amount of skin that has been burned.
Gently rub some petroleum jelly on the burned area. Try not to rub to much; you do not want to irritate the area anymore than what you have already. The whole purpose of putting the petroleum jelly on your skin is to give back some of the moisture that you have lost so quickly by burning it.
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Wrap the burn in light gauze and tape loosely. Do not go crazy and wrap the burn to the extent that you cannot move your body normally. One time around with the gauze is all that is needed. This is just to keep germs away from your wound because the burned skin is vulnerable and can become infected a lot easier than other skin.
Tips
If you think that the burn is worse than a first degree, immediately see your physician. If you prefer, you can use burn ointment instead of petroleum jelly depending on what you have in your house.
Warnings
Whatever you do, do not pick at your burn; this will make it hurt even more. If there are blisters do not pop them, allow them to pop on there own!
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References
- Cuttle L, Pearn J, McMillan JR, Kimble RM. A review of first aid treatments for burn injuries. Burns. 2009;35(6):768-775. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2008.10.011
- Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS. Outpatient burns: prevention and care. Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.
- Shrivastava P, Goel A. Pre-hospital care in burn injury. Indian J Plast Surg. 2010;43(Suppl):S15-S22. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.70720
- Nielson CB, Duethman NC, Howard JM, Moncure M, Wood JG. Burns: Pathophysiology of Systemic Complications and Current Management. J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(1):e469-e481. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000355
- Schaefer TJ, Tannan SC. Thermal Burns. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2019.
- Cancio LC, Barillo DJ, Kearns RD, et al. Guidelines for Burn Care Under Austere Conditions: Surgical and Nonsurgical Wound Management. J Burn Care Res. 2017;38(4):203-214. doi:10.1097/BCR.0000000000000368
- Lloyd ECO, Rodgers BC, Michener M, Williams MS. Outpatient burns: prevention and care. Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(1):25-32.
- Munteanu A, Florescu IP, Nitescu C. A modern method of treatment: The role of silver dressings in promoting healing and preventing pathological scarring in patients with burn wounds. J Med Life. 2016;9(3):306-315.
Tips
- If you think that the burn is worse than a first degree, immediately see your physician.
- If you prefer, you can use burn ointment instead of petroleum jelly depending on what you have in your house.
Warnings
- Whatever you do, do not pick at your burn; this will make it hurt even more.
- If there are blisters do not pop them, allow them to pop on there own!
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