Mild burns are extremely common household injuries. Burns can come from candles, hot pots and pans, boiling water, and any of the other numerous things that can possibly burn you in your home. Mild burns are relatively easy to treat, but for severe burns, make sure that you see a doctor. Here are some tips on treating mild burns.
What You’ll Need:
Cool water
Aloe Vera or burn gel
Clean dressing
Acetaminophen
1. Run Water
Run cool water over your burn. Let the water run for at least five minutes; more if you can stand it. Don’t use ice or very cold water because this can damage the tissues. If you’ve burned your hand, let it soak in a bowl of cool water.
2. Add aloe or burn gel
Dry the burn very gently with a clean cloth. You could also use a paper towel, but make sure that it is soft and won’t leave bits of paper in the burn. Add aloe vera to the burn. You can squeeze the juice from an aloe vera plant, or use a gel. You can also use a burn gel specially made for burns; these gels have lidocaine added tot hem that will kill any pain.
3. Dress the Burn
Don’t wrap the burn tightly, but do put a clean, loose dressing on it. This will help reduce pain because when air hits a burn, it hurts! It will also help you to avoid infection. Make sure the dressing stays clean and dry. It’s a good idea to use clean, soft dressings but avoid gauze that will stick to the burn. This will make it painful when it’s time to change the dressing.
4. Take a Painkiller
Burns, even mild ones, can be very painful. Take a painkiller such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to kill pain and help reduce any swelling that you may have. Make sure that you call your doctor if the burn blisters, streaks, or turns very red. Make sure that you don’t put butter or any other thick ointment on a burn, as this can hinder healing and increase the risk of infection.
April 26th, 2011 at 6:31 am
Hi, thanks for such great info . I have really enjoyed this blog and will be back!!