FRIDAY, May 30, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- If you're not certain what you need to do to help extinguish the pain of minor burns, here's a refresher from the Mayo Clinic.
Generally, you can provide treatment at home for first-degree burns -- where the skin is reddened -- and small second-degree burns -- where a blistered area is no larger than two inches.
Here's what you need to do:
- For chemical burns, make sure the chemical and any clothing or jewelry in contact with the chemical are removed.
- Cool the burn under running water long enough to reduce the pain. It usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. If you can't use running water, immerse the burn in cold water or cover it with cold compresses. Don't put ice directly on the burn. Ice can cause frostbite and further damage.
- Once the burn is cooled, apply a lotion or moisturizer to soothe the area and prevent dryness. Don't apply butter because it holds the heat in the tissues and may cause more damage.
- Cover the burn with a loosely-wrapped sterile gauze bandage. This keeps air off the burn and reduces the pain.
- Take an over-the-counter pain medication, unless your doctor has told you not to take these kinds of medications.
- Don't break blisters on burn areas. If a blister does break, wash the area with an antibacterial soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover it with a bandage.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about burns.
