What Are The Treatments For Burns Caused By Scalding Water

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 4,000 individuals are burned every year from scalding hot water in the home. A health care provider should see any burn that causes blisters to rise or penetrates deeply into the skin layers. You can treat first-degree burns (where the area is red but not broken) at home. When in doubt, seek the advice of a medical care provider to treat scalding burns that are larger than your hand, or any burns that occur on the face.

Cool

Treat a first-degree scalding water burn by cooling it right away. Expose the area to cold water or a cold compress for at least five minutes. This brings the temperature of the burned skin down and promotes pain relief. If possible, soak the injured area in cold or cool water until the pain has lessened, but don't expose the area to cold or icy temperatures for so long that the area becomes numb. Don't place ice directly on the burned area.

Pain Relief

Pain is common in first-degree burns. If the skin looks like it is starting to blister, or if the burn is deeper than you thought, call your doctor for advice regarding treatment. Don't break open the blisters. If the skin has not broken, continue to treat the burn at home. Take aspirin or acetaminophen according to package instructions for pain relief. Don't use creams, sprays or butter to soothe pain and don't cover the burn; doing these actually traps heat inside. In addition, creams, petroleum jelly and butter may inhibit the natural healing process.

Severe Burns

Treatment of a second- or third-degree scalding burn often requires medical supervision and care. In some cases, severe burns need antibiotics to prevent infection or anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling. Debridement, or scraping away burned and dead tissue from a burn area, may be necessary, as may surgery or even skin graft procedures.

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