What should I do if I don't have burn ointment after a burn?

Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
Updated on December 28, 2024
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After getting burned and if there is no burn ointment at hand, you should first remove the clothes around the burn, and then rinse or soak the wound in cold water for more than half an hour, and then apply vegetable oil to the wound.

If there is noticeable redness, swelling, and pain, as well as blisters of various sizes, you can use a sterilized needle to puncture the blisters from the bottom, and squeeze out the blister fluid from top to bottom, but do not tear off the blister skin. Then disinfect with iodine and wrap the wound with a clean cloth, and promptly go to the hospital for further treatment. The patient should avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce congestion and swelling at the burned area, thereby reducing local pain and itching.

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

Numbness in a finger after a burn suggests a severe injury, likely affecting below the dermis and damaging nerves, leading to abnormal sensations and numbness. After a finger is burned, it should be immediately rinsed with cold or running water for at least thirty minutes to cool the burn down. Then, proceed to a hospital for proper care, such as disinfection, wrapping with gauze for protection, and possibly applying burn ointment to promote recovery. Follow the doctor's instructions for daily dressing changes, and take antibiotics as prescribed to prevent and treat infections.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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Can soy sauce be used for burns?

After a burn, do not apply soy sauce because it contains a high amount of salt, which can aggravate the severity of the burn. Additionally, soy sauce may not be clean and could possibly contaminate the wound with bacteria, leading to infection. However, consuming soy sauce does not significantly affect the healing of burns. The correct practice is to immediately soak the burned area with running tap water or cold water for about half an hour, then observe if there are any blisters or similar conditions. You can apply some burn moisturizing cream for further treatment. Generally, the wound should be treated with exposure therapy, and in severe cases of burns, skin grafting or flap surgery might be considered.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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What should I do if it itches after a burn?

Itchy after scalding may be a mild itching sensation that appears during the wound healing process. This situation does not require deliberate treatment. With timely medication and dressing changes, the itchy feeling can gradually subside as the skin at the wound site heals. However, if redness and mild suppuration occur at the wound site, this indicates an allergic infection. In such cases, it is recommended to clean and disinfect with iodophor, followed by the external application of antibacterial medication and dressing, which can help treat the infection and promote healing at the site. If necessary, oral cephalosporin medications can be taken for combined treatment, which is more conducive to promoting healing. Additionally, during the recovery period, it is important to keep the wound dry and sanitary, avoid contact with water, and not consume spicy and irritating foods, to avoid affecting the healing of the wound.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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How to treat burns from hot oil

After being scalded by hot oil, the first step is to remove yourself from the scalding environment and immediately rinse or soak the affected area with cold water for at least 20-30 minutes to reduce temperature and pain. Afterwards, disinfect with iodophor. Scald ointments, such as safflower oil, can be applied to the affected area. For blisters formed after a scald, use a sterile needle to puncture and drain the blister fluid, then apply medication and wrap it with sterile gauze. If the scald covers a large area or is a third-degree burn, it is generally not manageable on your own and requires prompt medical attention to avoid delaying treatment. (Please follow medical advice when using medication.)

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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.