How to take care of a burn wound

Immediately immerse the burn in cool tap water or apply cold, wet compresses. Do this for about 10 minutes or until the pain subsides. Apply petroleum jelly two to three times daily. Do not apply ointments, toothpaste or butter to the burn, as these may cause an infection.

Keep the wound covered with a bandage. Burns heal better in a moist, covered environment.

Most burn providers use one of the advanced wound dressings that can be left in place for 7–14 days while healing occurs. Any remaining small open areas on the donor site can be treated with antibiotic ointment. Notify your burn provider of any areas of redness, warmth, and increased pain.

Don’t use ice, ice water or even very cold water.

Severe burns shouldn’t be treated with ice or ice water because this can further damage the tissue. The best thing to do is cover the burn with a clean towel or sheet and head to the emergency room as quickly as possible for medical evaluation.

Treatment for small burns

For first-degree or second-degree burns smaller than about two inches in diameter, Bernal recommends the following home-treatment steps: Wash the area daily with mild soap. Apply an antibiotic ointment or dressing to keep the wound moist. Cover with gauze or a Band-Aid to keep the area sealed.

His research showed that, contrary to the conventional wisdom at the time that wounds should be allowed to dry out and form scabs to promote healing, wounds instead heal faster if kept moist. Winter’s work began the evolution of modern wound dressings that promote moist wound healing.

Inflammatory (reactive), proliferative (reparative) and maturation (remodelling) constitute the three phases in wound healing.

An opened blister can get infected. You may put a thin layer of ointment, such as petroleum jelly or aloe vera, on the burn. The ointment does not need to have antibiotics in it. Some antibiotic ointments can cause an allergic reaction.

Monitor your healing.

It may be difficult to tell when a burn has healed because it will have a different coloration from your regular skin, but healed skin will look dry. The exception is full-thickness burns, which will appear dry from the start.

RED: An open wound with predominantly red tissue within the base is likely moving towards healing. The red base means that healing is occurring, and that adequate blood flow and oxygen are being delivered. One caveat is that excessive red color surrounding the wound may be an indication of infection (cellulitis).

Second-degree burn

They affect the epidermis and dermis, with the burn site often appearing swollen and blistered. The area may also look wet, and the blisters can break open, forming a scab-like tissue.

Call your doctor if you experience: Signs of infection, such as oozing from the wound, increased pain, redness and swelling. A burn or blister that’s large or doesn’t heal in two weeks. New, unexplained symptoms.