Burn, Baby, Burn...What to do

There are many different degrees of BURNS. One thing they have in common, however, is that they really...burn. I mean...hurt.

The most common type of burn, is the first degree burn that irritates the first layer of your skin. I have done this recently, reaching into an oven and touching the back of my hand to the hot rack inside. While your body is fast at sending the signal from your hand, to your brain, and back to your hand, saying "its hot!! remove hand!! now!!" It is never fast enough to prevent the damage even a minor burn can do. Burns don't have to come from hot surfaces or fires, either. They can even come from hot steam.

If this happens (a minor burn that does not break the skin).........
--Get to a sink fast and run the COOL WATER over your burn for at least 5minutes. This will decrease the temperature of your skin, and prevent further damage from the "hotness" of the area. It will also temporarily distract you from the pain.
--DO NOT put ICE on the burn, especially not directly onto the skin.
--DO NOT put any other household remedies (such as butter, eggs...who knows) onto it
--DO NOT break or pop any blisters. This can lead to infection quickly.
--DO NOT smother with a dressing, it will need air to heal. But do keep it clean.
--DO NOT use burn cream if the skin is broke open, you might need a prescription for the appropriate skin care ointment.
--Even minor burns pulse with PAIN for awhile. You can take Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory) regularly to help keep it under control. You're not a wuss...it hurts.

Minor burns usually heal without further treatment. They may heal with pigment changes, meaning the healed area may be a different color from the surrounding skin. Watch for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, fever, swelling or oozing. If infection develops, seek medical help. Avoid re-injuring or tanning if the burns are less than a year old — doing so may cause more extensive pigmentation changes. Use sunscreen on the area for at least a year.

If you have a major burn (which may not even hurt right away, because of nerve damage) you need to get to an ER immediately. Try to cool the area on the way there, without getting it extra dirty if possible. Burns do extensive damage, but our amazing bodies can repair the damage over time! Know what to do.