Burns and Sunburns

First Aidsunburn picture

  • Cold water: immediately put burned area in COLD tap water
  • Use container of cold water; or run cold water over burn
  • Do not take time to take clothing off
  • Continue cold water for a full 10 minutes
  • NO lard or butter (makes burn worse)

Types of Burns

  • 1st degree - reddened skin with no blisters
  • 2nd degree - reddened skin with blisters
  • 3rd degree - deep burns with charred or white skin

Call right away for

  • Any significant blistering, especially if bigger than 2 inches in diameter
  • Any blister on the face
  • Blisters on the hand (especially if bigger than 1 inch)
  • Any burn in the area normally covered by a diaper or underpants
  • Burn on the eye, or eyelid
  • Any 3rd degree burn

Home Care

First degree burn:

  • Soak in cold water (see above)
  • Can give Tylenol for pain. Dosing guide.
  • No ointment, or medicine needed
  • Keep area clean and dry (NO LARD OR BUTTER) (HINT: put clean socks on hands for protection)
  • May have skin peeling in about 5 to 7 days
  • These burns heal well on their own (call during office hours for questions not answered here)

Second degree burn:

  • For small area (about two inches, or less in diameter)
  • Wash gently twice a day
  • Use liquid antibacterial soap, and water
  • Do not open blisters
  • If blister breaks, trim dead skin with fine scissors
  • Apply antibiotic ointment (over the counter; like Neosporin), and cover with a dressing (change the dressing every day)
  • Can give Tylenol for pain. Dosing guide.
  • Expect: some pain for about 2 days, and peeling (like sunburn) in about one week
  • Second (and first) degree burns don’t leave scars
  • These steps help burn heal; call during office hours with questions

Sunburn

  • Usually first degree burn; turns skin pink or red
  • Usually signs come about 4 hours after exposure
  • IBUPROFEN (Motrin) for children older than 6 months. Dosing guide.
    • Give within 6 hours of burn, continue for 2 days
    • Can reduce swelling and pain
  • Bathe child in cool water (avoid soap on burn)
  • Gently apply 1% hydrocortisone cream (over the counter)
    • Use 3 times/day for 2 days
    • Can reduce swelling and pain
  • Avoid anesthetic creams (can cause allergic reaction)
  • Offer and encourage extra water/fluids
  • Call if blisters, fever, chills or headache develop

When to call

  • Severe pain lasts more than 2 hours after Tylenol (or ibuprofen, if child has a sunburn)
  • Burn begins looking infected (pus, fever, streaking, or increasing redness and pain after 3-4 days)
  • Burn is not healed (or much better) after 10 days

PREVENTION OF SUNBURN is the MOST IMPORTANT part

CANCER: children with blistering sunburns before age 18 have a much higher risk of skin cancer later in life.

  • Keep child out of direct sun from about 10 AM until 3 PM, if at all possible
  • Use protective clothing (long sleeves and long pants; you can buy lightweight sun protective clothing)
  • Always use sunscreen (cloudy days, also)
    • Use SPF of 15 or greater
    • Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before exposure and reapply periodically while in the sun. Remember that no sunscreen is truly waterproof.
  • Have child wear a hat with wide brim