April 12, 2018 at 3:43 pm

You can treat most first-degree burns at home. You should call your child’s pediatrician if you’re concerned about a burn your child received. Their doctor will examine the burn to determine its severity.

They’ll look at the burn to see:

• how deep it penetrates the skin’s layers
• if it’s large or in an area that requires immediate treatment, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth
• if it shows signs of infection, such as oozing, pus, or swelling

You should see your doctor if your burn becomes infected, swollen, or extremely painful. Burns on certain areas may require a visit to the doctor. These burns may heal slower than burns on other areas of the body and require a visit to the doctor. These areas include the:

• face
• groin
• hands
• feet

Home Care Treatment

If you choose to treat your wound at home, place a cool compress over it to relieve the pain and swelling. You may do this for five to 15 minutes and then remove the compress. Avoid using ice or extremely cold compresses because they can aggravate the burn.

Avoid applying any type of oil, including butter, to a burn. These oils prevent healing in the site. However, products containing aloe vera with lidocaine may help with pain relief and are available over the counter. Aloe vera, as well as honey, lotion, or antibiotic ointments, can also be applied to first-degree burns to reduce drying and speed up repair of the damaged skin.