What is a burn?
A burn is an injury to the skin after it has been exposed to sunlight, open flames, hot liquids, electricity, and hot objects, such as irons or stove tops. Most burns occur inside the home when hot water or grease come into contact with skin. This type of burn is called a scald.
Degrees of burns
Doctors determine the degree or severity of a burn by the amount of skin it affects and its depth. In most cases, a large, deep burn is most severe.
First-degree burns
First-degree burns, or surface burns, affect the top layer of skin. A common example of this type of burn is sunburn. With a first-degree burn, your child’s skin will turn red, swell, and become a little painful. This type of burn will heal by itself within a few days, leaving no marks or scars.
Second-degree burns
Second-degree burns, or partial-thickness burns, affect the top layer of skin and the first few layers of skin underneath it. With a second-degree burn, your child’s skin will turn red, swell, and blisters may form. This can be very painful for your child. In most cases, a second-degree burn will heal by itself within a few weeks. Your child may develop a scar.
Third-degree burns
Third-degree burns, or full-thickness burns, affect all the layers of skin. This includes nerves, blood vessels, and hair follicles. Your child’s skin may turn black or very white. However, there is very little pain associated with third-degree burns because of the amount of nerve damage they can cause.
If your child has suffered a third-degree burn, she may need to undergo a skin graft. This is a medical procedure that involves removing a piece of healthy skin from an area of her body that is not burned and transplanting to the affected area. Third-degree burns can take months to heal and will always leave a scar.
When to seek medical attention
If your child has suffered a major burn, call 9-1-1 right away.
Major burns can include:
- A burn that is deep and affects all the layers of skin (third-degree burns).
- A burn that is larger than 10 cm, or 4 inches, across.
- A burn on the hands, feet, face, groin, breast, anus, genital area, or on a major joint.
If your child’s burn becomes infected at any point or does not seem to be healing well, seek medical attention right away.
Treatment
Major burns
If you suspect your child has suffered a major burn, call 9-1-1 right away. Here is a list of things you can do while waiting for the ambulance to arrive:
- Cover the burn with a cloth or towel moistened with cool (not cold) water.
- Do not remove your child’s burned clothing.
- Do not break any formed blisters.
- Do not apply any ointments, sprays, or substances other than water to the injured area.
Minor burns
Minor burns, which include first-degree burns and most second-degree burns, can be treated at home. Avoid exposing the affected area to the sun. This may cause the burn to worsen or prolong the healing process. Also, applying sunscreen to a burn will not protect the skin from further damage.
Cool the burn
Submerge the burn in cool water or gently run water over it for 10 minutes. The sooner you do this, the better. Do not waste time removing your child’s clothing to get at the burn. If you are outside, use a garden hose, drinking fountain, or any other source of cool water. Cooling the burn will reduce the amount of pain your child is feeling. Cool water will also reduce any swelling and prevent the burn from moving deeper under the skin.
Cover the burn
If your child’s burn is large, loosely cover it with sterile gauze or a clean sheet. Do not wrap the burn tightly. Covering the burn will keep the area clean and reduce the pain. Do not use cotton balls on a fresh burn and avoid putting any ointments on it at this time.
Cleaning the burn
Gently wash minor burns with a mild and unscented liquid soap twice a day. Submerge the burn in cool water or gently run water over it for 10 minutes. Allow the burn to air dry or very gently pat it dry with a soft, clean cloth or towel. If your child’s burn has blistered, do not break it. The blister will act as a protective layer against infection. If the blister happens to break, put an antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin, on it and cover it with sterile gauze or a bandage.
Pain relief
A burn can be very painful for your child. Give your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed on the label. Do not give your child ASA (acetylsalicylic acid, Aspirin, and other brands). Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are just as good as ASA for treating pain associated with burns.
For more details on how to keep your child safe from burn injuries, please see Burns: Household Safety and Prevention.
Key points
- If your child has suffered a major burn, call 9-1-1 right away.
- Cool minor burns with cool water.
- For pain, give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give your child ASA.
- Gently wash minor burns with liquid soap twice a day.
- A minor burn can be treated at home, but medical attention may be needed if it is not healing well.