How to Treat a Small Burn

Knowing how to treat a small burn promptly can help you heal it and stay safe. Larger burns often require medical attention, but small burns can be easily treated at home with the right care. It's important to learn how to treat the burn quickly, provide proper aftercare, and use home remedies when necessary.

Place the burn under cold running water. If you’ve just burned yourself, hold the affected area under cold water. The cold water will quickly cool the burned skin and reduce the burn’s severity. However, do not use soap to clean the burn; just let it run under the water.

• Do not rinse if the burn is more serious. If you notice charred skin or smell a burnt odor, do not rinse it with water but immediately call emergency services (115).
• Do not soak the burn in water. Gently rinse the burn and use a clean towel to pat the skin dry.

Cool the burn for 5-10 minutes. After cooling the skin with water, you can apply a clean cold compress to the burn to reduce swelling. This step helps soothe the pain, reduce swelling, and prevent blisters from forming on smaller burns.

• Some people prefer using crushed ice, frozen vegetable bags, or other frozen items instead of a cold compress. If you choose this method, do not apply the cold item directly to the burn for more than 5-10 minutes. The burn may become numb, causing you to lose the ability to feel temperature, putting you at risk for frostbite. Use only a small amount of ice, as you won't be able to tell when it becomes too cold.

Monitor the burn after a few minutes. Even if you think the burn is relatively mild, you should still observe it to ensure it doesn’t worsen. Sometimes, more severe burns can become numb, causing pain to appear later. Learn the difference between burns to plan for care:

• First-degree burn affects only the outer layer of skin, showing redness, slight swelling, and pain. First-degree burns generally don’t require medical care.
• Second-degree burn also affects the outer layer of skin but is more serious, with red and white patches, blisters, swelling, and more intense pain.
• Third-degree burn impacts deeper skin layers and underlying fat. In severe cases, third-degree burns may affect muscles and bones. Signs include blackened skin or white, charred areas, along with possible breathing difficulty, severe pain, and smoke inhalation.

Continue applying cold compresses if pain persists. Apply a cold cloth or other cold compresses to the burn to alleviate pain. Cold temperatures help reduce pain and swelling in the burned area. Burns that develop blisters may cause more prolonged pain, so try to prevent further swelling if possible.

Elevate the burn above heart level. Even small burns can be sharp and quite painful during the first few hours. If the burn hurts, try elevating the affected area above the level of your heart to ease the pain (if possible).

Seek medical care for severe burns. All third-degree burns require immediate medical attention. Second-degree burns larger than 7.5 cm, located on the hands, feet, face, genital area, major joints, or other sensitive areas, also need a doctor’s evaluation.

Gently clean the burn with soap and water. Once the swelling and pain are under control, wash the burn gently with mild soap and water. Pat dry and keep the burn area clean to avoid infection.

Apply over-the-counter creams if necessary. To reduce swelling and keep the burn clean as much as possible, use an over-the-counter ointment or lotion. Aloe vera gel or low-dose hydrocortisone creams are commonly used.

• If blisters form, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the blister with a bandage for about 10 hours before removing it.
• Gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers are sometimes used on mild burns. This helps prevent the skin from cracking. Allow the burn to heal a little before applying moisturizer.

Keep the burn area exposed to air. A very minor burn doesn’t need to be covered for healing. Just keep it clean and dry; the burn should heal in a few days.

• If blisters appear, loosely cover the burn with gauze. If it hurts, you can wrap it loosely with gauze or use a band-aid to protect the burn.

Do not touch the small burn. Never pop any blisters that form. Blisters protect the burn and help heal the skin beneath. The blisters will shrink after a few days if you keep the burn clean and dry.

• Larger blisters should be examined by a doctor, who may drain or remove them if necessary. Never attempt to drain or remove blisters yourself.

Wear loose clothing around the burn area. To avoid irritation, keep the burned area dry and well-ventilated. Opt for cotton clothes that fit comfortably, allowing the skin to breathe and ensuring air circulation to the burn.

• If the burn is on your fingers or hand, remove any rings, bracelets, or watches that may be near or over the burn area and wear short-sleeved clothes. Minimize any further irritation to the burn area if possible.

Take over-the-counter pain relievers if necessary. If the burn is painful, you may take over-the-counter pain medications such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. These medications can help reduce swelling and manage pain. Always follow the instructions for use of over-the-counter pain relievers.

Treat the burn with aloe vera gel. Aloe vera gel and moisturizing creams are very effective in soothing and cooling the burn area. You can either use the natural oil from the aloe plant or purchase aloe vera cream from a store.

• Some moisturizing creams and lotions marketed as "aloe vera" may actually contain only a small amount of aloe vera. Be sure to read the ingredients carefully to avoid applying scented lotions or those containing aluminum on the burn area.

Apply coconut oil and lavender essential oil. Lavender essential oil is believed to have healing properties for minor cuts, abrasions, and small burns affecting the outer skin layer. However, essential oils can be irritating, so it's essential to mix them with a soothing oil like coconut oil (which also has antibacterial properties).

• The theory is that a French scientist was a pioneer in using lavender essential oil as a home remedy when he accidentally burned himself in a laboratory. After dipping his hand into a jar of lavender oil, the burn healed quickly.

Apply vinegar to the burn. Some people believe that a small amount of diluted vinegar can help control pain and quickly heal minor burns. If you get burned, rinse the affected area with cool water as soon as possible, then use a damp cloth to gently dab a few drops of vinegar on the burn. Use a cloth similar to a cold compress to soothe the burn area.

Use sliced potatoes. In rural areas, sliced potatoes are sometimes used as a substitute for gauze, especially for burns. The potato peel has antibacterial properties and does not stick to the wound, which means it won't cause pain.

• If you try this method, make sure to clean the wound both before and after using the potatoes. Additionally, wash the potatoes thoroughly before applying them to the burn. Avoid leaving potato residue on the burn.

Only use home remedies for very minor burns. If cool water, over-the-counter medications, and time do not help heal the burn, seek medical attention. Never use unverified home remedies for more serious burns.

• Petroleum jelly or Vaseline is often believed to soothe burns, but this is not true. Vaseline acts as a moisture barrier and can dry out the burn. It does not have actual healing properties. Applying Vaseline to a burn is not recommended.
• Some people believe toothpaste, butter, and other kitchen ingredients can be applied to burns. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of these substances. Never apply toothpaste to a burn.

• As an alternative, you can apply a damp, cold cloth to the burn. Continue wetting the cloth when it warms up or dries out. Keep the cloth on the burn until the pain starts to subside.