Safety \ Healthful Hint

How to Treat Minor Burns at Home

Ouch! Minor burns from a run-in with a hot stove or other object can be painful. But fortunately, they're usually easy to treat at home.

First, hold the area under cool water for about five minutes.

Never use ice because that could cause frostbite and further damage the skin.

Clean the area with mild soap and water. Then wrap it lightly in gauze. Change the dressing at least once a day.

If you're uncomfortable, try a pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

A minor burn should heal on its own within about five days. But if it's bigger than 3 inches, or you see any signs of infection--like intense redness, swelling, or fever--seek medical help.


This entry last modified on: January 9, 2013 4:39 PM

Tags:

Add a Comment:

SAFETY

First Aid Kit Essentials

First Aid Kit Essentials

A first aid kit is important for treating burns, sprains, and scrapes. Here’re 13 items every emergency kit needs.

Watch Now

FITNESS

Belly Dance

Belly Dance

Shimmy your way to a better body.

Watch Now

FUN

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep Deprivation

A lack of sleep is nothing to brag about.

Watch Now

About the Video

How to treat minor burns at home and when to call for medical help.

Related Content

Did You Know?

There are three kinds of burns:

First-degree burns: Affect only the top layer of skin. Cause redness, pain, and mild swelling.

Second-degree burns: Involve the second layer of skin. Cause severe pain, swelling, redness, and blisters.

Third-degree burns: Involve all layers of skin and tissue. Turn the skin waxy, white, leathery brown, or charred black. There may be no feeling because of nerve damage.

For More Information

First aid for minor burns from the Mayo Clinic.

What are the symptoms of a first-degree burn? Information from Penn State University.

First Aid Checkup: Test your first aid knowledge with our Everwell Challenge.

Do you have a well-stocked first aid kit? Get our list of 13 supplies that every kit needs.

coffee-is-good-for-you-book
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT

Connect With Us

Have a comment or suggestion? E-mail us.
data recovery after formatData Recovery