If you’re cooking, remove the oil from the burner before you begin first aid treatment so you don’t burn your food or cause a fire.

If part of a piece of clothing is stuck to the burn, you may have to cut that part of the clothing away. You can also try wetting any clothing that’s stuck to the burn. This may cause it to come loose without any pulling.

The water should be cool, but not cold. Avoid applying ice to the burn, because you could cause further damage to the skin. Wrap some plastic cling wrap around the burn after running water over it. This will keep the burn clean and help the area retain moisture. If you can’t run cool water over the burned skin due to the location of the burn, you can place a washcloth soaked in cool water over the burn, or soak the burn in a cool bath. [3] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDFAAD Board Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.

If your burn is deep and severe, you may notice blistering, redness, and inflammation and heat around the burn. These types of burns can cause nerve damage, and should be treated by a medical professional, even if they are small. Call emergency services or go to the emergency room immediately if your burn covers a large area of your body (such as you face, hands, groin, buttocks, or a major joint) or is deep enough to penetrate all your layers of skin or even deeper tissues. [5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source

You can also use pure aloe gel to help alleviate your pain. [9] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDFAAD Board Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020. Avoid ointments that contain antibiotics. Antibiotics aren’t necessary, and may cause an allergic reaction. Do not use creams, lotions, butter, or egg whites. They can prevent your skin from healing and may lead to infection.

If you don’t have burn dressing, you can wrap the burn area with plastic cling wrap or a clean plastic bag. [11] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Never wrap a burn with something dry and clingy that could stick or leave fibers on the burned skin, such as a dry gauze dressing. If you must put gauze on the burn, wet the dressing with sterile water or apply a layer of Vaseline to the burn before putting on the gauze.

The risk of tetanus is low with superficial burns. However, if your skin is blistered or the burn is more severe, a tetanus shot can protect you. [13] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source

Apart from changes to the burn itself, a fever or swollen lymph nodes are also signs of infection. Seek medical treatment if you have a fever higher than 100. 4° F (38° C). It may take 2 to 3 weeks for the wound to heal. If it hasn’t healed in that time, seek medical attention.

Avoid cortisone or other anti-itching lotions or ointments. They are not effective for burns and may prevent the burn from healing.