What is minor burn treatment done with?

Care depends on the burn’s size, depth and location. A clinician may cool the area, remove jewellery or tight clothing before swelling develops, clean it gently and cover it with a sterile wound dressing. The dressing protects the damaged skin from rubbing and contamination while the surface repairs.

Do not put ice, butter, toothpaste, oils or household creams on a fresh burn. Do not break blisters, because the covering skin helps protect the area. A dressing should be changed as advised, and the skin should be watched for increasing pain, redness, swelling or discharge.

Hold the burn under cool running water for a sustained period, remove nearby jewellery and cover the area loosely with a clean, non-fluffy material if medical help is not immediately available. Keep the person warm while cooling the injured skin. Avoid adhesive material directly on the burn.

Arrange medical advice if the burn is blistered, larger than the person’s palm, deep-looking, or on the face, hands, feet, genitals or over a major joint. A clinician can decide whether a sterile wound dressing and follow-up are appropriate.

Seek urgent help for a burn caused by electricity or chemicals, a burn with white, charred or numb skin, breathing difficulty, or injury to the face or airway. Get prompt review if pain, redness, warmth, swelling, pus or fever develops, as these can signal a complication. Children, older adults and people with conditions affecting healing may need earlier assessment.

What dressing should I use and how often should it be changed? Can I wash the area normally? What pain relief is suitable for me? How will I know the burn is healing, and when should it be reviewed?