Burns
The one thing that matters most
Cool the burn with cool running water for 10–20 minutes. It does more good than any cream or home remedy, and it works even hours-old. Start cooling before you finish reading this page if a burn just happened.
At a glance
- Cool 10–20 minutes with cool running water — works even on hours-old burns.
- No ice or ice water — it deepens the injury.
- No butter, oil, toothpaste, or ointment; never pop blisters.
- Any burn larger than the person's own palm is an emergency — any third-degree burn, any size.
- Remove rings and tight items early, before swelling starts.
Judge the depth
| Degree | Skin looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| First | Red, dry, painful, no blisters (mild sunburn) | Cool water, then moisturizer or aloe; pain relief as needed |
| Second | Blotchy red, wet-looking, blisters, very painful | Cool water 10–20 min, loose non-stick cover, watch infection |
| Third | White, leathery, charred, or oddly painless | Cool briefly, cover loosely, treat as an emergency below |
Treatment steps
- Stop the heat. Move away from the source. Smoldering clothing comes off or gets doused; hot liquid-soaked clothing comes off immediately — it keeps burning underneath.
- Cool with running water. Cool tap water is right; 10–20 minutes. A clean basin of water works if no running water exists, refreshed as it warms.
- Remove rings and tight items early, from burned areas and nearby, before swelling starts.
- Cover loosely. Clean, non-stick cloth or cling film laid on flat — never wrapped tightly. Burned skin swells for hours.
- Raise a burned limb above heart level to reduce swelling and pain.
Never do these on a burn
No ice or ice water — it deepens the injury. No butter, oil, toothpaste, or ointment on fresh burns. Do not pop blisters: the fluid is sterile protection, and broken blister skin is an open door for infection. Do not peel clothing stuck to the burn — cool around it.
When it becomes an emergency
- Burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over joints
- Any burn larger than the person's own palm (third-degree: any size)
- A ring of burn around an arm, leg, finger, or chest
- Burns from electricity or chemicals — electrical burns hide internal damage; chemical burns flush with running water for 20+ minutes while removing contaminated clothing
- Smoke inhalation signs: hoarse voice, singed nose hairs, soot around mouth, coughing black specks — airway swelling can close hours later; seek help even if breathing feels fine now
Pain and follow-up
Over-the-counter pain medicine helps after cooling is underway — dosing tables live on Dosing by Weight. Change loose coverings daily; any burn that is not clearly healing within days needs professional eyes.
Grounded in public-domain CDC/AHA burn first aid guidance. Educational only — verify against packaging and professional advice.