What should not be eaten when a finger is scalded?

Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
Updated on April 20, 2025
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It is advised not to eat spicy and irritating foods for burns on fingers, and to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. It is recommended to drink more water regularly, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, supplement vitamins, and eat foods high in protein and energy that are easy to digest. Enhancing nutrition can promote the recovery and improvement of burn tissues. Concurrently, it is necessary to engage in relevant targeted treatments such as medication changes, anti-infection measures, and gauze protection. It is also advised to reduce the activity of the affected limb to avoid worsening the injury.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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Do you need to disinfect every day after a burn?

Whether daily disinfection is necessary after a burn depends on the condition of the burn. If it is a minor burn with only superficial reddening, it is not necessary to disinfect daily after the initial treatment on the first day. If the burn is more severe and blisters have formed, it is recommended to disinfect daily, apply burn ointment, and cover with a dressing to prevent infection. Additionally, it is advised to drink plenty of water, eat fresh vegetables and fruits, consume high-protein and nutritious foods to promote healing of the burn, and avoid spicy and irritating foods.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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Why does a burn from oil swell?

Being scalded by oil belongs to high-temperature burns, which can cause degeneration and necrosis of skin and tissues, followed by an inflammatory reaction leading to the leakage of fluids and localized swelling. Additionally, in a high-temperature state, local blood vessels will dilate. This dilation can lead to congestion, and the increased pressure causes water to seep into the tissues, thus causing localized swelling. Therefore, after being scalded by oil, it is necessary to rinse with cold water for at least 30 minutes, or until the pain eases, to lower the local temperature, reduce pain and swelling, and alleviate symptoms. Furthermore, when necessary, disinfection and protection measures should be taken, and cold compresses can be applied to reduce swelling.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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Will a burn leave a scar?

Whether burns leave scars depends on the severity of the burn and whether emergency measures were taken after the burn. Clinically, burns can be divided into three degrees. A first-degree burn, which is mild, generally shows symptoms such as stinging pain, mild swelling, and erythema. With timely soaking in cold water, rinsing, and application of burn medicine, scars are not left. For deeper second-degree and third-degree burns that involve the dermis, there is a possibility of scarring. At this point, the skin at the affected area may show necrosis, and local healing may be delayed. Therefore, actively treating the burn immediately after it occurs, preventing infection, and quicker wound healing can reduce the likelihood of scarring.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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Can a burnt finger be wrapped up?

Burned fingers should not be wrapped up. A finger burn occurs when the skin and soft tissues of the finger are damaged by hot water, causing an inflammatory response, which can lead to symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain, and severe cases can cause necrosis of the skin and dermis. If wrapped up, the temperature of the burned finger cannot decrease, which might worsen the degree of the burn. Generally, after a finger burn, it is advisable to quickly soak or rinse the finger in cold or running water for at least about half an hour to lower the temperature of the finger. This can reduce the severity of the burn and thus protect the finger.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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What should I do if my finger swells up from a burn?

After a finger burn, it should immediately be rinsed with cold or running water continuously for at least half an hour to cool down the damaged skin. Then, use iodine or alcohol to disinfect the area, followed by covering it with a dressing. If swelling occurs, cold packs with ice water can be applied. Alternatively, magnesium sulfate wet compresses or more traditional remedies, such as continually applying potato slices, can help reduce the swelling. However, these methods will require some time to take effect. The main goal is to alleviate symptoms through anti-inflammatory and pain relief treatments, allowing the inflammation of the soft tissues to subside gradually and the swelling to reduce.