How to Reduce the Pain Caused by a Burn

The pain associated with a burn, especially a particularly severe one, is perhaps one of the most intense forms of pain. The pain typically lasts longer than other kinds of pain. Fortunately, a number of steps can be taken to help reduce the amount of pain the patient feels from a burn injury.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Cool water
• Clean towel

Assess the Burn Injury

1. Recognize the symptoms of a burn including pain, red or peeling skin, white or charred skin (usually present in the most severe or third-degree burns) and swelling. Secondary symptoms may also include shock and numbness, particularly in severe burns affecting both the skin and the underlying tissue.
2. Determine whether the patient has received a minor or severe burn by observing the affected skin. A first-degree burn is generally considered minor and only affects the topmost layer of skin, causing pain and redness. More severe burns include second or third-degree burns, going deeper than the epidermis and affecting a larger area of skin.

Treat Pain Caused by Minor Burns

3. Run cool water over the burned skin if the skin is unbroken. You may also soak it in a cool water bath to help alleviate the pain.
4. Avoid using ice to reduce the pain caused by a minor burn. A rapid cooling of the skin may cause additional damage.
5. Soak the burned area for at least 5 minutes. You may also use a clean towel, dipped in cold water and applied to the affected skin, to help reduce the pain.
6. Cover the burn with a sterile bandage or dressing. This will help prevent further pain by protecting the skin from friction and pressure.
7. Administer the appropriate dosage of ibuprofen or acetaminophen to the patient.

Tips & Warnings

• While minor burns may generally heal on their own, major burns, affecting multiple layers of skin or covering a larger percentage of a person's body, require additional medical attention. Call 9-1-1 to request emergency assistance in treating the pain caused by a major burn.
• Though your first inclination may be to soothe a burn by blowing on it, do not do so. This may introduce airborne germs and will increase the risk of infection. Never breathe, blow, or cough on a burn.
• Never give aspirin to children under the age of 12, and always follow the manufacturer's or your doctor's dosing directions.

Who Can Help: