Most everyday burns from a hot pan, an oven rack, spilled tea or a stray iron are minor and can be managed at home. The key is acting fast with the one thing that genuinely helps in the first minutes, and avoiding the folk remedies that make things worse. Here is what to do, step by step.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. See a doctor if symptoms are severe, spreading, affecting your vision, or not improving after a week or two.
First: cool the burn
As soon as possible, hold the burn under cool (not ice-cold) running water for a full 20 minutes. This is the most important step and it still helps even up to three hours after the burn. Cooling limits how deep the tissue damage goes and reduces pain and swelling.
If running water is not available, a clean cloth soaked in cool water, re-wetted often, is the next best option. Remove rings, watches and tight clothing near the burn before it swells, unless fabric is stuck to the skin, in which case leave it.
What not to use
- No ice or iced water. It constricts blood vessels and can cause a cold injury on top of the burn.
- No butter, oil, or greasy ointments. They trap heat in the tissue.
- No toothpaste, egg white, or home pastes. They do nothing useful and raise infection risk.
- Do not break blisters. Intact blisters protect the wound.
After cooling: dress it
Once the burn is cooled and the skin is dry, apply a thin layer of a plain, fragrance-free moisturiser or pure aloe vera gel to a first-degree burn. For anything blistered, cover it with a sterile non-stick dressing or clean cling film laid over (not wrapped tightly around) the area. Change the dressing daily and whenever it gets wet or dirty. Keep the area clean and avoid picking at peeling skin.
Managing pain and healing
An over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen helps for the first day or two. Keep the burn slightly elevated if it is on a hand or arm to reduce throbbing and swelling. Once new skin has formed, keep it out of the sun or covered, because fresh burn skin pigments unevenly and burns again easily for up to a year. Daily sunscreen on the area is worth it; see our guide to choosing a sunscreen.
Watching for infection
Signs that a burn has become infected include increasing pain after the first couple of days, spreading redness, swelling, warmth, pus or a bad smell, and fever. If you see these, get medical advice promptly. Make sure your tetanus vaccination is up to date for any burn that breaks the skin.
Sunburn counts as a burn too
A widespread sunburn is a first-degree (sometimes second-degree) burn and is treated the same way: cool the skin, moisturise, hydrate, take an anti-inflammatory pain reliever, and stay out of the sun while it heals. Our guides on preventing sunburn peeling and treating heat rash cover related summer skin problems.
When to get medical help
Go to urgent care or the emergency department for burns bigger than your palm, burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals or across a joint, burns that look white, waxy, leathery or charred, painless burns, and any burn from electricity, chemicals or an explosion. Children and older adults should be assessed sooner. When in doubt, have it looked at; deep burns treated early scar far less.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you put on a minor burn?
Cool running water for 20 minutes, then a light layer of a plain moisturiser or aloe vera and a loose non-stick dressing. That is it. Do not use butter, oil, toothpaste, ice or egg white. For pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
How long does a first-degree burn take to heal?
A superficial first-degree burn, like a mild sunburn or a brief touch of a hot pan, usually heals in 3 to 6 days, often with some peeling and no scarring. A superficial second-degree burn with blisters takes 1 to 3 weeks.
Should you pop a burn blister?
No. The blister is a sterile natural dressing that protects the healing skin underneath and lowers infection risk. Leave it intact. If it bursts on its own, gently clean the area, leave the loose skin as cover if possible, and apply a non-stick dressing.
How do I know if a burn is serious enough for medical care?
Seek care if the burn is larger than your palm, is on the face, hands, feet, genitals or over a joint, looks white, leathery or charred, is painless (which can mean deep nerve damage), or comes from electricity or chemicals. Also see a doctor if it is not healing in about two weeks or shows signs of infection.
What is the difference between first, second and third-degree burns?
First-degree burns affect only the outer skin layer: red, dry, painful, no blisters. Second-degree burns reach the layer beneath: blistering, wet-looking, very painful. Third-degree burns destroy the full thickness of skin: white, brown or charred, leathery, and often numb. Second-degree burns over a large area and all third-degree burns need medical treatment.