Home Remedies for Small Burns

Small burns are no small matter. If burns are not treated right away, they can continue to get worse, as they go deeper below the skin and cause more damage. Knowing what to do when someone in your household gets a small burn will prevent further damage and start the healing.

Three Goals

When treating burns, no matter how big or small, you have three goals: prevent shock, ease pain and reduce the risk of infection.

Small Burns

First-degree burns and some second-degree burns would be considered small burns. First-degree burns only affect the outer layer of skin. The skin is usually red and a little swollen. A burn is a second-degree burn when the first layer of skin is burned through and the second layer is also burned. With a second-degree burn, blisters develop. The only second-degree burns that are considered small are smaller than 3 inches in diameter.

Stop the Burn

The first thing to do after being burned is to cool the burn so that it does not continue to affect other layers of skin. Run the burned area under cool water. Wrap the burned area in a loose bandage or gauze to keep it clean and free from infection. If the burn is still causing pain, a pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil could help.

Home Remedies

To ease the pain and help with healing, soak the burned area in whole milk. Apply yogurt, aloe vera or honey to the burn. Or place a compress soaked in diluted vinegar on the burn.

When to Call the Doctor

You should go to the doctor if the burn was caused by electricity or chemicals; if it covers an area larger than the victim's hand (this area will be small for a baby); if the victim has fever, chills, vomiting or swollen glands; or if the burn area smells unpleasant or oozes pus.