What to do after a burn

A small accident at home can sometimes cause a painful burn. Hot oil can splash while cooking a child may spill hot tea, or steam from a pressure cooker can quickly burn the skin.

Many people immediately put toothpaste, turmeric salt or ghee on a burn.  However not every traditional home remedy is safe. Some products can irritate the skin contaminate the wound or make medical treatment more difficult.

The first few minutes after a burn are important. Knowing what to do and what to avoid can help protect the injured skin.

Should you put Toothpaste, Ghee, or Turmeric on a Burn?

Applying toothpaste turmeric, salt ghee or other household products to a fresh burn is a common practice but these are not recommended as first aid.

It is especially important to avoid putting such substances on burns that have formed blisters or where the skin has broken.

They can make the area dirty and may interfere with proper medical care.

What to do after a hot oil burn

If hot oil splashes onto your hand arm, or another part of your body first move away from the source of heat.

Then place the burned area under cool running tap water for about 20 minutes. Avoid putting ice or extremely cold water directly on the skin.

If you are wearing a ring, watch bracelet or other tight item near the burn carefully remove it before swelling develops.

Steam burns should not be ignored

Steam from a pressure cooker kettle or hot cooking pot can also cause burns.

Move away from the steam and cool the affected area under running water. If the burn affects the face causes significant swelling or leads to breathing problems seek medical help immediately.

What if hot tea spills on the skin?

Hot tea, water and other drinks can cause serious burns especially in children. Cool the affected area under cool running water for about 20 minutes.

If the burn is large, has severe blistering or affects the face hands, or another sensitive area, medical attention may be needed.

Do not pop a burn blister

A blister may appear after a burn. Do not try to pop it with a needle or any other object. The blister can help protect the damaged skin from germs. Breaking it yourself may increase the risk of infection.

If it remains intact it can gradually dry and heal. However seek medical advice if the pain swelling redness or appearance of the wound gets worse.