Burn care

Cool running water for 10 minutes

The American Red Cross and American Burn Association recommend holding a burn under cool (not cold) running water for at least 10 minutes. This stops the burning process in the deeper tissue layers, reduces pain, and limits the severity of the injury.

Start cooling as soon as possible. Even a delay of a few minutes allows heat to continue damaging tissue below the skin surface. If running water is unavailable, apply cool wet cloths, but running water is more effective because it continuously carries heat away.

Common mistakes that make burns worse

Ice or ice water. Extreme cold causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), which reduces blood flow to the injured tissue and can cause frostbite on top of the burn. Cool water, not cold.

Butter, oil, or grease. These trap heat in the skin and increase the depth of the burn. This folk remedy has been disproven for decades but persists in popular advice.

Popping blisters. Blisters are the body's sterile bandage. The fluid inside protects the healing tissue and reduces infection risk. Popped blisters expose raw tissue to bacteria.

Adhesive bandages directly on the burn. After cooling, cover the burn loosely with a sterile non-stick gauze pad. Do not use adhesive bandages, cotton balls, or fluffy materials that can stick to the wound.

Burns that need professional care

Seek emergency care for burns that are larger than 3 inches, that cover the face, hands, feet, groin, or a major joint, that go all the way around a limb, that appear white, brown, or black (third-degree), or that were caused by chemicals, electricity, or inhalation.

Any burn on an infant, an elderly person, or someone with a compromised immune system should be evaluated by a medical professional regardless of size.