First-Degree Burn

Home care

Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home.

• Use pain medicine as advised. You may use over-the-counter medicine as directed by the doctor to control pain if no pain medicine was prescribed. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, talk with your doctor before using acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Also talk with your doctor if you've had a stomach ulcer or GI (gastrointestinal) bleeding.

• On the first day, you may put a cool compress on the burn to relieve pain. You can use a small towel soaked in cool water as a cool compress. Don't use ice or ice water.

• Moisturizers with aloe vera can help soothe the burn.

• Don't pick or scratch at the affected areas. Use over-the-counter medicines such as diphenhydramine for severe itching if needed. This medicine is taken by mouth.

• Since you don't have an open wound, you don't need to use antibiotic cream or ointment. Sometimes an infection may occur even with correct treatment. Be sure to check the burn daily for the signs of infection listed below.

• Wear a hat, sunscreen, and long sleeves while in the sun.

• Wear loose-fitting clothes until the burn heals.

• Drink extra water. This will prevent fluid loss (dehydration). Sunburns pull fluid to the skin’s surface and away from the rest of the body.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your doctor as advised. Most first-degree burns heal well without problems.

When to get medical advice

Contact your doctor right away if you have signs of infection, such as:

• A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your doctor.

• Pain that gets worse.

• Redness or swelling that gets worse.

• Pus coming from the burn.

• Red streaks in your skin around the burn.

• A wound that doesn't seem to be healing.