Small burns from hot water, steam, hot objects, or brief flame contact. Affecting less than 5% of the body surface area in adults with no involvement of face, hands, or joints.
Cool the burn immediately under cool running water for a minimum of 20 minutes. Start this within seconds if possible. This is the most important step — it reduces depth of injury and significantly reduces pain.
Do not stop cooling before 20 minutes even if the pain has eased.
Remove jewellery, watches, or clothing from the burned area before swelling develops — do this gently and only if not stuck.
After cooling, cover loosely with cling film or a clean plastic bag. If unavailable, use a clean non-fluffy cloth. Do not wrap tightly.
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief.
Assess the depth. Superficial burn — red, painful, no blisters. Partial thickness — blisters, very painful, weeping. Full thickness — white, brown, or black, often painless. Full thickness burns always need hospital treatment.
Small blisters — leave them intact. They protect the burn from infection. If a blister bursts accidentally, keep the overlying skin in place as a dressing and cover with a clean non-stick dressing.
Change dressing daily using clean technique. The burn should show signs of healing within 5 to 7 days.
Signs of healing: pain gradually reducing, edges of burn appearing pink. Signs of infection: increasing pain, spreading redness, pus, fever.
Burn larger than the person's palm.
Any burn on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or a joint.
Burn that appears white, brown, or black — full thickness.
Burn in a child under 5 or elderly person.
Burn showing signs of infection — spreading redness, pus, increasing pain, fever.
Chemical or electrical burn of any size.
Never apply butter, oil, toothpaste, egg white, or any food product — they increase infection risk and retain heat.
Never apply ice — it causes frostbite and worsens tissue damage.
Never burst blisters deliberately.
Never use fluffy cotton wool directly on a burn — fibres stick to the wound.
✓ What Helps
· Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain
· Cling film or clean plastic bags for covering
· Non-adherent sterile dressings such as Melolin or Jelonet
✗ What To Avoid
· Butter, oil, toothpaste, egg white
· Ice or very cold water
· Fluffy cotton wool directly on the burn
→ Ask The Pharmacist For
· Paraffin gauze non-stick dressings for wound coverage
· Silver sulfadiazine cream for burns under medical guidance only
🏥 Get Professional Help
Go to hospital for any burn on the face, hands, feet, or genitals. Any burn larger than the person's palm. Any full thickness burn. Burns in children under 5 or the elderly. Any burn showing signs of infection. Any chemical or electrical burn.