First-Aid for Minor Burns

One can receive a burn under various circumstances, but being able to recognize the different levels of a burn is vital to know the correct treatment for it. There may be many instances in our routine life, where we get minor burns; usually, we may apply an ointment to cure it, but without realizing the fact that each kind of burn requires a different treatment for it. Let’stake a close look at the levels of burns and the aftercare treatment for most minor burns.

  • First-degree burns-Also known as minor burns/heat burns/thermal burns, these burns only affect the top layer of the skin and are red and painful. They swell a little initially and can also be itchy in the healing phase. It takes roughly 3-6 days to heal.
  • Second-degree burns–These types of burns affect one more layer of the skin than first-degree burns and are more painful. They turn red and create blisters on the skin and swells after a day or two. It takes almost 2 to 3 weeks to heal.
  • Third-degree burns–If these burns have affected more than 2 inches of your skin, it requires an immediate doctor’s visit. Third-degree burns damage all layers of the skin and look white and charred/scorched. These burns initially might cause little to no pain as the nerves and tissue in the skin are damaged. It takes a very long time to heal and leaves marks on the body.

If you suffer from a second or third-degree burn, please see a doctor at our urgent care center, as these burns require special attention, care, and treatment. However, minor burns or first-degree burns can be cured by personal care and home remedies if it does not cover more than 2 to 3 inches in diameter of the skin area. There are multiple remedies to heal minor burns; however, it depends on the cause of the burn for the right treatment.

First-Aid for Minor Burns:

  • Smother any flames by covering them with a blanket or cool water. Do not use ice. The extremely cold temperature of ice can damage the inner tissue even more.
  • If your clothing catches fire, don’t run. Rather stop, drop, and roll on the ground to smother the flames.
  • If any kind of clothing or jewelry is stuck on the burnt area, do not remove it. See the doctor immediately.
  • If the burn is caused by any kind of chemicals, then removing the clothes that have chemicals on them can reduce the effect.
  • Hold and clean the burned skin under running water for 15 to 20 minutes until you are relieved of the pain or the irritation caused by burns.
  • Do not break blisters. Open blisters can cause more infection.
  • Treat the burn with skin care products that soothes the skin and helps to heal the burns, like Aloe Vera gel or antibiotic ointment. Wrap a dry gauze bandage loosely around the burn. This will help to protect the affected skin from any form of infection.
  • For pain relief, one can take over-the-counter medicines that contain naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). If you visit the doctor to treat the burn, they may prescribe one of these medications for you. Medicinal ointments also help reduce the swelling.
  • To help reduce the resulting scars of the burns, apply olive oil to the area and massage it twice a day until the scar gets lighter.

Even though there are several ways to treat minor burns at home, we recommend seeing a doctor for the best treatment for you. Reach out to our skilled physicians at Preferred Urgent Care for any kind of immediate care!

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