How effective is wound care and dressing for minor burns?

Cooling a fresh thermal burn with cool running water limits ongoing heat in the skin. Once cooled, gentle cleaning and a non-stick dressing shield the area from friction and contamination while the surface repairs. A dressing should not stick to the burn or compress swollen tissue. Burn depth can change over time, and the appearance may be difficult to judge at home. Burns affecting the face, hands, feet, genitals or a major joint deserve a lower threshold for professional review.

Move away from the heat source and remove jewellery or clothing near the burn unless it is stuck to the skin. Cool the area under clean, cool running water, then cover it loosely with a sterile non-stick dressing or clean non-fluffy material. Do not use ice, butter, oil or adhesive directly on the burn, and do not burst blisters. Keep the dressing clean and dry, replacing it as directed or when it becomes wet or dirty. Pain that is not settling, or a dressing that causes pressure, warrants advice.

Get urgent care for a burn that is deep-looking, white, charred, numb or leathery; wraps around a limb; follows an electrical or chemical exposure; or is larger than a small superficial area. Seek prompt review for burns on sensitive body areas, worsening redness, swelling, drainage, fever or increasing pain. If a chemical caused the injury, avoid contact with the substance and follow emergency decontamination advice.

Ask which dressing suits the burn, how often it should be changed and whether the blistered skin should remain intact. Ask how to manage pain and which changes suggest infection or a deeper burn.