What should you know about home remedies for a minor burn?

A minor burn may be red, sore and limited to the top layer of skin, sometimes with small blisters. The appearance can change over the following hours. Burns can be more serious when they are deep, extensive, circumferential, or involve the face, hands, feet, genitals, major joints or the airway.

Chemical, electrical and flame burns can cause hidden damage even when the skin looks limited. A burn in a young child, an older adult or someone with reduced sensation may also need a lower threshold for assessment.

Move away from the heat source and cool the burn under clean, cool running water for at least twenty minutes when possible. Remove rings, watches and loose clothing near the area before swelling develops, but do not pull away anything stuck to the skin. Do not apply ice, butter, oil, toothpaste or adhesive material, and do not burst blisters.

After cooling, cover the area with a clean, non-fluffy dressing or loose cling film and keep it clean. [Minor Burn Treatment](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/minor-burn-treatment/) and [Wound Care and Dressing](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/wound-care-and-dressing/) can help with follow-up care.

Get urgent help for trouble breathing, burns to the face or neck, a chemical or electrical burn, charred or white skin, numbness, rapidly increasing swelling or a burn that circles a limb. Arrange medical assessment for a large burn, worsening pain, spreading redness, pus, fever or a wound that is not improving.

Ask whether the depth and location need assessment, which dressing is suitable, how to manage pain and how to recognise infection. Mention the source of the burn, when it happened, cooling time and whether the skin was blistered or broken.