How to treat a minor burn

Burns are common, but an extremely painful injury. While minor burns will heal without much medical attention, severe burns require care to prevent infection and reduce scarring. Here’s how you can treat a burn…

     ®     Run cool water over the burn. As soon as you can, run cool water over the burn. This will prevent further damage to your skin. Stick the burned area under cool running water for 10 – 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. Avoid using cold water, since this can damage the skin around the burn.
- The sudden shock of extreme heat to extreme cold will only slow the healing process.

     ®     Remove tight clothing or jewelry quickly. As soon as you can, or while rinsing the burn, remove anything that might constrict your skin as the wound swells. When in doubt – take it off. This lets blood flow to the wound and starts healing it. Remove tight clothing or jewelry can also prevent further damage.

     ®     Apple a cold compress. If cold water isn’t an option, use a cold compress or an ice pack wrapped in a towel. Place it over your burn. Apply the compress for 10 – 15 minutes, wait for 30 minutes and then reapply it again for 10 – 15 minutes.
- Never apply ice or a compress directly to the burn, since this will damage the skin. Keep a towel between you and the ice instead.

     ®     Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever, if the pain and swelling does not lessen after several hours; take another does of the medication. Avoid giving aspirin to young children.
- Follow the specific package instructions. They’ll be different depending on what medication you choose.

     ®     Clean the burn. After washing your hands, use soap and water to clean the burn and prevent infection, apple an anti-biotic to keep the burn clean or Aloe Vera to soothe your skin.
- Do not pop blisters while you clean your burn as it can cause nasty infections. But, if they have popped or if your wound is exposed, use an antibiotic to prevent infection.

     ®     Lightly cover the burn with gauze. You may not need to apply a bandage to first degree burns, blisters that haven’t popped, or sin that isn’t exposed. But small second degree burns will need a wrap to keep out any infection. Cover the burn lightly with gauze and secure it softly with medical tape. Make sure to change the gauze daily.
- Remove gauze in the direction of hair growth. If the gauze is sticking to the wound, use lukewarm water or a saline solution applied to the stuck gauze for easier removal.

     ®     Watch the burn for infection. Keep an eye on the wound for changes in colour. Seek medical attention if a burn does not heal over several weeks. A b urn that doesn’t heal can be a sign of complications, infection or a more serious burn. Let your doctor know if you experience any of these signs:
- Warmth
- Tenderness
- Hardening of the wound area

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