How does minor burn treatment work?

Cooling under cool running water helps remove residual heat from the skin. The burn is then assessed for depth, size and location. A sterile wound dressing can protect broken skin, absorb fluid and reduce rubbing while the surface repairs itself. Pain relief may be recommended according to your age, health and other medicines.

A minor burn commonly affects the outer skin and may look red, sore or blistered. Do not burst blisters, apply ice, butter or sticky substances, or pull fabric away if it has adhered to the skin. A clinician may recommend wound care and dressing changes as healing progresses.

Move away from the heat source, remove jewellery or loose clothing near the area, and cool the burn with running water. Keep the person warm overall while cooling the injured area. Cover the burn with a clean, non-fluffy dressing or the dressing advised by a healthcare professional, and wash your hands before touching it.

Keep the dressing clean and dry, and follow instructions for changing it. Watch for increasing pain, spreading redness, swelling, discharge or fever. Do not use adhesive material directly on damaged skin. Burns involving chemicals, electricity, the face, hands, feet, genitals, major joints or a large area need medical assessment.

Seek urgent care for difficulty breathing, burns to the mouth or airway, extensive blistering, white or charred skin, an electrical or chemical burn, or a burn that circles a limb. Arrange prompt review if pain is worsening, redness spreads, pus appears, fever develops, or the wound is not healing. Get advice for any burn in a baby, older adult or person with reduced sensation or significant medical conditions.

Ask whether the burn is shallow enough for home care, which dressing to use, how often it should be changed, what pain relief is suitable, and which signs mean you need a further examination.