Treating Burns at Home

Treating burns at home is something everyone will have to do at one point of time or another. Here are some tips that will help you deal with these accidents

Getting a burn from either hot water, a hot vessel, a chemical or steam is a predicament most of us have faced. With a minor but painful burn, it is often difficult to think straight, leaving us at a loss of what to do. Treating burns at home is fairly easy to do, once your equipped with a little know how. In fact, the manner in which you treat the burn right away may influence the severity of the injury. Know more on how to treat burns.

Type of Burn

Before one is able to administer some self care to treat a burn, the severity of the burn has to be first identified. Here are cues you can use to assess the degree of tissue damage:

First-degree: In these cases, the outer layer of the skin hasn’t been burned through, but there will be redness, pain and swelling in the afflicted area. The situation is serious if you’ve burnt large portions of your hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or a major joint or you’re having difficulty breathing. Otherwise the wound can be treated with self-care remedies. Read more on first degree burn treatment.

Second-degree: These burns are more serious, and are identified as those where both the epidermis and the second layer of skin (dermis) are burned. Usually in these cases blisters develop, and the skin turns very red and splotchy. It is common to experience severe pain and swelling. These burns warrant immediate medical attention it they are larger than 2 to 3 inches, or are on the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or over a joint. if you find it difficult to breath, get emergency medical help. Read more on second degree burn treatment.

Third-degree: These severe burns involving singeing of both the first and second layer of skin, along with some of the tissue under the skin. The affected area may appear black or dry white. In some cases, fat nerves, muscles, and even bones are affected. This situation required emergency medical care. Read on chemical burn treatment.

Treating Minor Burns at Home

The first step to treating burns from hot water, steam or a hot object, is to cool it under running water till the pain reduces. While this may be easily done while treating burns on fingers, if the burn is elsewhere (like on the face) one could keep the affected area covered with cold compresses or dipped in cold water. While some people believe in treating burns with ice, you must never do this, for you will risk frostbite and may worsen the situation. However, do not expose the burn to ice. After about 15 to 20 minutes, apply lotion or moisturizer to soothe the area. People often suggest treating burns with honey or butter, but these substances increase a chance of infection, and prolong healing. Then cover it loosely with a sterile gauze bandage. Read on minor burn treatment.

For the pain, you may take an over the counter pain killer, unless advised against it by your doctor. In some cases, a blister filled with fluid may form. Ideally, one should leave it be, but it is bothering you, you can make a tiny opening with a pair of scissors, sterilized with alcohol. Follow this up by washing the area with antibacterial soap and water, and then apply an antibiotic ointment, and bandage.

Read more on:

Skin Burn Treatment

Burn Care - First Aid for Burns

Burn Injuries Affecting Children and How to Deal With Them

After this initial treatment for treating burns at home, follow up with regular moisturizing, and minimize exposure to the sun. While the burned skin may scale or blister, the pain should reduce within a few days. If you are a healthy young person, the burn may heal in a weeks time. If given immediate attention, first-degree and smaller second-degree burns can heal without leaving a scar. However, be prepared to wait a month (or more) for the burned skin to get back its original color. While treating burns in babies or children, one is advised to seek medical attention, and not try to deal with the situation on their own.