How should I treat a burn on my arm?

Question

I burned my arm earlier this evening on a hot pan- the burn is about 3 inches long and looks like a raised white line surrounded by inflamed (red) skin. I know it isn't bad, but how should I dress it before I go to sleep? I don't have a band-aid big enough for it, and I don't have any gauze in the house.

Answer 1

keep it dry after cooling it down

loose gauze to keep it clean.  Don't restrict it as inflammation is common to burn insults.

The only cream you can use if Silvadene cream, if you have any.

Ointments, bacitracin and other Petroleum products are used once the area is free of infection and is helpful to moisten your skin.  This is in the later healing stages. Not in the beginning.  

If the burn area spreads, gets deeper, leaks alot or smells....see an MD.

Answer 2

should have applied HOT water or radiant heat, as hot as you can tolerate as soon as possible after a burn (all old experienced cooks know to apply heat as quickly as possible) to minimize the damage.

IF you have a homeopathic remedy like Cantharis and or Urtica urens 30C or 200C potency (I have a liquid remedy bottle on hand near the stove and I take the dose orally and on the wound so the pain goes away very quickly and do not have to resort to the heat method.

the Australian Bush Flower Essences Solaris is good for all kinds of burns as well and will speed healing.

"Australian Bush Flower Healing" by Ian White

ISBN-10: 073380

Yahoo email group discussing Australian Bush Flower Essences

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABF...

The way I make a remedy bottle, using a dropper bottle from health food store or pharmacy and fill it halfway up with distilled water. Then add 1/4 vodka. I then add 3 pills of my chosen remedy and succuss 30 times (hit on the heal of my hand) then the dose is one drop. I hit the heal of my hand a couple of times between each dose.

IF in pain from a burn I repeat ever minute at first and less often as the drop lasts longer I do not take the remedy if I do not have any pain though. Keep away from electrical, magnetic fields. (lamps, computers and microwave sort of things.)

Answer 3

You need to let it breath. If you haven't put Neosporin or aloe on it, do so. Only cover it if you don't want to displace any medicine you have applied. Otherwise, the best way for it to heal is it leave it open, because fabrics and cloth and stuff will irritate it.

Answer 4

Be lucky you didnt burn your whole arm when you were just a baby, so then all your life your humiliated and teased and bullied.

Good luck.

( btw that happened to me )

Answer 5

You need to run it under cold water for 10 minutes (no longer) about every 45 minutes.

You cannot dress it with anything but NON adhesive gauze. Otherwise it will stick and possible create a better chance of infection.

Do NOT put anything on the burn.

If it blisters, see your doctor and do not pop the blisters. You will need a prescription because of a good chance of infection.

Answer 6

Ok, I'm assuming you already ran cool water over it; if you haven't, do so. For tonight you can makeshift a bandage, but in the morning I would advise going to your local pharmacy and purchasing some gauze. You're quite right not to use too-small band-aids, as the adhesive can very easily remove layers of skin (burned skin is quite fragile).

Anyway, to makeshift something for tonight: make sure the burn is clean. Gently wash it with soap and lukewarm water. Pat it dry, do not rub. Apply any analgesic ointments you may have; neosporin commonly includes pain relief. Now, this may sound somewhat odd, but if you have any pantyliners, you can use that as a dressing. It will cover the burn and protect it from your environment; it will keep the ointment on the burn; and it will absorb any moisture or leakage produced by the burn or the ointment. The mesh-type top layer will prevent it from sticking to the burn. Also, it should be large enough to cover the entire burn. If you have any medical tape, you can use that to secure the pantyliner to your arm. If you're taping it, make sure the tape is on only the liner and your healthy skin. The adhesive should not touch the burned skin at all.

To re-iterate, though, I do recommend purchasing gauze at your earliest convenience. Make sure to get nonstick gauze! Nonstick is very important.

Edit: what's with all the thumbs down? This is perfectly sound advice. http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/home-treat...

Rinse, clean, bandage.