October - Tips for Treating First-Degree Burns

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Even small burns hurt can hurt! Make sure you know how to care for them properly.

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October is National Fire Prevention & Safety Month. Even though dermatology isn’t directly related to fire prevention, many of our patients have asked us for tips on burn care. Read on to learn the best home treatments for minor burns and how to tell if you need additional medical care.

What is a first-degree burn?

First-degree burns only involve the top layer of skin. In most cases, it’s caused by a mild sunburn or a flash burn with a brief burst of heat, which can occur from touching hot objects like a stove or a curling iron. But don’t let that definition fool you! Many patients with a first-degree burn can experience quite a bit of pain and possible scarring when not adequately treated. Although first-degree burns are not as severe as higher-degree burns, treat your burn right away to reduce the pain and mild swelling that might occur.

Symptoms of first-degree Burns:

Before we talk about how treat your burn, let’s cover the symptoms of a superficial first-degree burn:

• Redness

• Dry skin

• Skin that is painful to touch

• Pain that usually lasts 48-72 hours and then subsides

• Peeling skin

Tips to Treat a First-Degree Burn:

1. Keep the affected area cool. Immediately after the burn occurs, apply cold, wet compresses or immerse the burn in cool tap water. Continue applying cold compresses or cool water for 10 minutes or until the pain subsides.

2. Apply petroleum jelly two to three times daily. To avoid infection, do not apply ointments, toothpaste, or butter to the burn. Additionally, do not use topical antibiotics.

3. Apply a nonstick, sterile bandage to burn. If blisters form, do not pop them. Let them heal on their own while keeping the area covered with a sterile dressing.

4. Consider taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These over-the-counter medications can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

5. Keep the affected area out of the sun. To minimize scarring, once the burn heals make sure you protect your new skin by staying out of direct sunlight, wearing protective clothing, or applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. If you would like more information on sun safety and choosing a sunscreen, this recent article by Dr. L. Evan Michael has all the info you need: https://www.ashevillederm.com/derm-news-blog/june-sun-safety-awareness-month.

When To See A Medical Professional For a Burn:

While first-degree burns usually heal on their own without treatment, go to an emergency room immediately if the burn: 

• Covers a substantial area of the skin

• Occurs on an infant or elderly person

• Seems more severe 

• Causes pain that is unmanageable with over-counter-medication

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For more information on first-degree burn care, call 828-253-2533 to schedule an appointment with us, or visit the American Academy of Dermatology public education website.

About -

Dr. L. Evan Michael

Dr. Michael attended medical school and graduate school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he earned his M.D. and his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology. He received his Dermatology and Dermatopathology training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell University Medical Center in Manhattan, New York.

He recently relocated to Asheville from the Atlanta area with his wife and their two dogs.