Minor burns: the first twenty minutes matter most
Cool running water for twenty minutes does more for a burn than anything you can put on it afterwards.
Burn first aid is unusual in that the most effective intervention is also the simplest, and it is time-critical.
Cool it, properly
Hold the burn under cool — not ice-cold — running water for a full twenty minutes. This is worth doing even up to three hours after the injury. It limits how deep the damage goes. Remove rings, watches and tight clothing near the area before swelling starts, unless anything is stuck to the burn.
What not to put on it
No butter, no oil, no toothpaste, no ice. Ice causes further tissue damage. Greasy substances trap heat and have to be cleaned off later.
Covering it
Once cooled, cover loosely with a non-adherent dressing or clean cling film laid over — not wrapped tightly. The aim is to keep it clean and reduce pain from air movement. Do not burst blisters.
Get medical help for
- Any burn larger than the palm of the casualty's hand.
- Burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals or over a joint.
- Any burn that looks white, leathery or charred, or is painless — painlessness suggests depth.
- Chemical and electrical burns, always.
- Burns in babies, young children or older adults.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.