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Other Ways to Treat Burns in the Kitchen

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Other Ways to Treat Burns in the Kitchen

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Teaches you the right way to tend to a burn.

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The other day I accidentally picked up a very hot pan and burned my fingers. I immediately did what I always do when I get a minor burn: apply something cold, usually an ice cube wrapped in a towel, for several minutes. But this turned out to not be the best idea.

It's important to first acknowledge that we're discussing minor burns here (first-degree and some second-degree) and that any severe burn should be treated by a medical professional.

→ Know when to get medical attention: For a description of burns and how to treat them, see this page from the Mayo Clinic.

Why You Shouldn't Treat Burns with Ice

Back to my ice cube. My research explained to me that ice is not recommended, as it can also cause frostbite on now extra-delicate skin.

While I haven't experienced any difficulty with ice cubes, I will bow to modern medical wisdom and not recommend their use. I do know that the sooner I apply something cold, be it running the burned area under cool running water or pressing something cool from the refrigerator up against it, the better. I find that if I do this as quickly as possible and for as long as possible, the burn doesn't bother me as much.

Some first aid websites suggest applying an ointment and wrapping the burned area in gauze, and others do not. Old-timey remedies - like smearing the burn with butter or egg whites, and (ahem) pressing with ice - are not recommended.

How do you treat minor burns that happen in the kitchen?

Updated from a post originally published in October 2011.

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The other day I accidentally picked up a very hot pan and burned my fingers. I immediately did what I always do when I get a minor burn: apply something cold, usually an ice cube wrapped in a towel, for several minutes. But this turned out to not be the best idea.

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A first-degree burn is also called a superficial burn or wound. It's an injury that affects the first layer of your skin. First-degree burns are one of the mildest forms of skin injuries, and they usually don't require medical treatment. However, some superficial burns can be quite large or painful and may require a trip to your doctor.

Symptoms

The symptoms of first-degree burns are often minor and tend to heal after several days. The most common things you may notice at first are skin redness, pain, and swelling. The pain and swelling may be mild and your skin may start to peel after a day or so. In contrast, second-degree burns blister and are more painful due to an increased depth of the burn wound.

For a first-degree burn that occurs in larger areas of your skin, you may experience an increased level of pain and swelling. You may want to report large wounds to your doctor. Larger burns may not heal as fast as smaller burns.

An Important Note About Electrical Burns

First-degree burns that are caused by electricity may affect more of the skin than you can see in the top layer. It's a good idea to seek medical treatment immediately after the accident occurs.

Causes

Common causes of superficial burns include the following:

Sunburns

Sunburn develops when you stay out in the sun too long and don't apply enough sunscreen. The sun produces intense ultraviolet (UV) rays that can penetrate the outer layer of your skin and cause it to redden, blister, and peel.

Scalds

Scalds are a common cause of first-degree burns in children younger than 4 years old. Hot liquid spilled from a pot on the stove or the steam emitted from hot liquid may cause burns to the hands, face, and body.

Scalds can also occur if you bathe or shower in extremely hot water. A safe water temperature should be at or below 120˚F. Temperatures higher than this can lead to more serious skin injuries, especially in young children.

Electricity

Electrical sockets, electrical cords, and appliances can appear intriguing to a young child, but they pose considerable dangers. If your child sticks a finger or any object into the openings of a socket, bites on an electrical cord, or plays with an appliance, they can get burned or electrocuted from exposure to electricity.

Treatments

You can treat most first-degree burns at home. You should call your child's pediatrician if you're concerned about a burn your child received. Their doctor will examine the burn to determine its severity.

They'll look at the burn to see:

how deep it penetrates the skin's layers

if it's large or in an area that requires immediate treatment, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth

if it shows signs of infection, such as oozing, pus, or swelling

You should see your doctor if your burn becomes infected, swollen, or extremely painful. Burns on certain areas may require a visit to the doctor. These burns may heal slower than burns on other areas of the body and require a visit to the doctor. These areas include the:

Home Care Treatment

If you choose to treat your wound at home, place a cool compress over it to relieve the pain and swelling. You may do this for five to 15 minutes and then remove the compress. Avoid using ice or extremely cold compresses because they can aggravate the burn.

Avoid applying any type of oil, including butter, to a burn. These oils prevent healing in the site. However, products containing aloe vera with lidocaine may help with pain relief and are available over the counter. Aloe vera, as well as honey, lotion, or antibiotic ointments, can also be applied to first-degree burns to reduce drying and speed up repair of the damaged skin.

Outlook

As the skin heals, it may peel. Additionally, it may take three to 20 days for a first-degree burn to heal properly. Healing time may depend on the area affected. Always consult your doctor if the burn shows signs of infection or becomes worse.

Prevention

Most first-degree burns can be prevented if you take the right precautions. Follow these tips to prevent first-degree burns:

Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen or sunblock with a sunprotection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher to prevent sunburn.

Keep hot cooking pots on the back burners with the handles turned toward the center of the stovetop to prevent accidents. Also, be sure to watch young children in the kitchen.

A safe water temperature should be at or below 120˚F. Most water heaters have a maximum setting of 140˚F. You can manually reset your hot-water tank to have a maximum of 120˚F to avoid burns.

Cover all exposed electrical sockets in your home with childproof covers.

Unplug appliances that aren't in use.

Place electrical cords where your child cannot reach them.

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A first-degree burn is also called a superficial burn or wound. It's an injury that affects the first layer of your skin. First-degree burns are one of the mildest forms of skin injuries, and they usually don't require medical treatment. However, some superficial burns can be quite large or painful and may require a trip to your doctor.

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Burns from the kitchen can't always be treated correctly and quickly enough. Burns in the home are typically from hot objects like boiling water, hot pans or pots, and various iron materials. They can cause first and second degree burns. These burns usually go away in a few days or weeks, but sometimes they can leave scars. Read these articles to learn more information about diminishing burn scars.

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A second-degree burn is one that affects the outer two layers of skin. The epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (the layer underneath) both sustain injury in a second-degree burn. This type of burn may be minor or it may be more serious, depending on the size of the area burned and where on the body the burn occurs. Minor second-degree burns may be self-treated; major ones require immediate medical attention.

A second-degree burn usually takes no more than a few weeks to heal. If it is a minor burn, it may not leave a noticeable scar. However, a deeper burn of this type may result in scarring or even contractures near joints. Contractures can cause reduced mobility in the scarred area.

These burns may be caused when the skin comes into contact with something that is extremely hot, such as fire, hot liquid, steam, or a hot object; this is the most common cause of second-degree burns. Other causes include radiation (such as that from sunlight or cancer treatments), electricity, or chemicals. Symptoms include severe pain, redness, blistering of the skin, discoloration of the skin, and swelling.

A scar from a second degree burn is permanent, just like any other scar. However, there are steps you can take to dramatically improve the appearance of the scar over time. Minimizing your burn scar begins with proper treatment of the burn. Preventing infection is the most important first step to take as the burn heals.

Silicone is highly effective as a burn scar treatment. Once the burn has healed, you can immediately begin using a scar therapy that contains silicone to ensure the scar heals to be as light, flat, and minimally visible as possible. A silicone-based cream can be easy and convenient to use and less cumbersome than silicone sheeting. Be sure to apply the cream regularly - at least twice a day for 12 weeks or longer - for the best results.

In addition to silicone, your scar treatment should contain other ingredients that are known to heal and fade scars and improve the symptoms they can sometimes cause, such as pain and itching. Aloe vera is soothing and natural, and great for keeping the scar area moisturized. Linoleic acid, licorice extract, and vitamin C are just a few of the ingredients you should look for in your scar treatment. These ingredients are safe and effective and work with the silicone to lighten and flatten even dark or red scars.

You should take the utmost care to protect your burn scar from the sun, as sunlight can cause your scar to darken. Often, people try to camouflage a scar by getting a suntan, but this typically has the opposite result: the scar can become permanently darker and even more conspicuous after sun exposure. Make sure to wear sunscreen and keep the burned area covered when you are going to be outdoors.

Getting plenty of exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking will also help your scar heal and fade. If you have sustained a second-degree burn severe enough to leave a scar, the scar will be permanent - but taking these actions will ensure that it heals as well as it possibly can, making it nearly invisible in many cases.
Have a question about your scar? Leave a comment and we'll be happy to answer.
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The information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please speak to your doctor to treat any medical condition. Information on this site is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

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Are Second Degree Burn Scars Permanent? - Scars and Spots

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A second-degree burn is one that affects the outer two layers of skin. The epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (the layer underneath) both sustain injury in a second-degree burn. This type of burn may be minor or it may be more serious, depending on the size of the area burned and where on the body the burn occurs.

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Talks about signs that show an accident may occur and how to know that a fire or burn may happen and provides tips for a burn-free area and recomendations for beginning to cook and being safe in a kitchen.

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Although many burn accidents are not as serious, the importance of prevention cannot be overstated. LeAnn Chuboff, of the National Restaurant Association, urges all restaurants to develop an effective safety plan to prevent burns and other injuries. The first step, she says, is to review the establishment's safety records and see what kind of patterns emerge.

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This article shares information about the proper way to start the healing process for burns. Safety is extremely important and one must take caution in the kitchen! Honest mistakes can be made when using home remedies to treat a burn, so it is a must to read up on the safest ways to help someone.

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What Can I Do to Help Prevent Burns?

Every 60 seconds, someone in the U.S. is burned. Where is this most likely to happen? Inside your home.

Hot stoves, scalding bathwater, and space heaters are just a few household items that can cause severe burns. Here are the steps you can take to keep you and your family safe.

In the Kitchen

Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires and burn injuries. Take these steps to keep from getting hurt:

Don't cook if you're holding a child. First, put them into a high chair nearby

Never walk away from a hot stove

Turn all your pot handles inward so they can't be knocked over

If you're nursing, don't warm your baby's bottle in a microwave. Microwaves don't heat evenly and can create hot spots that burn your baby's mouth.

Slowly open any container that's been heated in the microwave. The steam inside it can burn you.

Store lighters, matches, and flammable liquids in a high cabinet where children can't reach them.

In the Bathroom

Scalding tap water can send kids to the hospital. In some cases, these burns can even be fatal. To avoid burns from tap water:

Set the thermostat of your water heater below 120 F (48.9 C) to prevent scalding.

Always check the temperature of bathwater on your wrist or elbow before placing a child in the tub.

Unplug curling irons, steam irons, and any other appliances that give off heat when you're not using them.

In the Bedroom

It's a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher on every floor of your house. But you're less likely to need it if you make a rule to only smoke outside your home. Never smoke in bed.

Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can catch fire. Always turn them off when you leave.

Set lighted candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable. Blow them out before you fall asleep or go into a different room.

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What Can I Do to Help Prevent Burns? Every 60 seconds, someone in the U.S. is burned. Where is this most likely to happen? Inside your home. Hot stoves, scalding bathwater, and space heaters are just a few household items that can cause severe burns.

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Being safe in the kitchen begins with taking precautions before you create something.

Using a pot holder is a very important step because it will prevent your skin from touching the hot metal.

Something that goes hand in hand with burns is fire. Keeping a fire extinguisher near the kitchen entrance so it is easy to find.

Believe it or not, you can actually get burns from steam as well; Lifting pot lids away from your body will help you avoid these burns.

Another way you can protect yourself from steam burns is to use the lid from a pan to shield your face when you are pouring hot liquids out of the pan.

If you are carrying a hot pan or container across the room you must warn anyone else in the room that there is a hot container so they can get out of the way to prevent the hot food from spilling.

To prevent burning yourself on an oven you will want to open the door as far as it can go (or parallel to the ground) and pull out the oven rack.

If you come in contact with a grease fire you are going to want to cover it with a lid or smother it with salt or baking soda. You are not going to want to pour water on it because that will actually make it worse.

To avoid hot liquids from splashing in your face you have to dry foods before putting them into hot fat.

You are going to want to keep the pan handles turned away from the front of the stove top to avoid bumping into it.