What to do if the pain persists after a burn?

Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
Updated on October 25, 2024
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After a burn, the pain persists primarily because the wound was not properly treated. The most common and simplest method in the early stages of a burn is to soak the burn in cold water or rinse it under running water for over half an hour. This can help wash away the residual heat on the surface, especially making it more effective for acid or alkali burns. Alternatively, you can use an ice pack to cool the area. After cooling, apply some burn ointment. If the pain is severe, pain-relieving medication can be used to treat symptoms, such as ibuprofen. If the pain is unbearable, it is advised that the patient should go to the hospital for timely examination and symptomatic treatment.

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What should I do if I get burned by hot oil?

After being scalded by hot oil, first, you should quickly move away from the hot oil. If oil splashes onto your clothes, carefully remove the oil-soaked clothing, including pants, shoes, and socks. Rinse the affected area with running water for more than half an hour to reduce the burning sensation and pain. If the scald manifests as local redness or small blisters, you can apply burn ointment to the surface. Try not to break the blisters or the epidermis to avoid bacterial infection. If blisters have already formed, under strict sterilization, you can use a sterilized needle to drain the blister fluid and then cover the wound with gauze to protect it from water. If the blisters are relatively large, it is advisable to go to the hospital burn department for examination, treatment, and care.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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How to treat scalds from boiling water?

After being scalded by boiling water, immediately rinse the scalded area with running cold water for at least half an hour, or until the pain eases, then assess the condition of the burn. If the scalded area is only red and experiencing severe pain, applying toothpaste, aloe, or tung oil topically can have a cooling and pain-relieving effect. Pain relief medications, such as oral painkillers or celecoxib, can also be used to alleviate the symptoms. If blisters appear on the scalded area or if the skin starts peeling, immediately go to the hospital for further treatment. Disinfect the wound thoroughly with iodine to prevent infection, then apply burn ointment to the surface to promote healing of the scalded tissue. If there are large blisters, use a sterile syringe to aspirate the fluid, or make a small cut at the base of the blister to drain the fluid, which can facilitate recovery. Apply erythromycin ointment to the surface to prevent infection. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
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What should I do if the circulation is poor after a finger scald?

After a finger is scalded and circulation is poor, it is necessary to improve this by constantly changing the dressing. Poor circulation after scalding affects the recovery of finger skin and the formation of new skin. If poor circulation is observed after a scald, it is crucial to intensify dressing changes, even remove necrotic tissue, and promote the growth of granulation tissue. When necessary, relevant medications can be used to remove decay and generate new muscle, improve microcirculation, and promote the regeneration of skin and muscle.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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How to treat a cold burn?

Low-temperature burns generally refer to chronic burns caused by prolonged contact with low-heat objects, such as hot water bottles, heaters, metal hand warmers, etc. These low-temperature heating devices, when in close contact for a long time, can easily cause skin burns, especially in the elderly and infants, who are more prone to local skin damage. Therefore, once a low-temperature burn occurs, it is important to cool the affected area promptly, including soaking and rinsing with cold water to achieve cooling and pain relief effects. Afterwards, the wound can be disinfected with iodophor and treated with burn medication. Mild low-temperature burns will gradually heal. Additionally, if significant skin damage has occurred, it may be necessary to consider using medications in combination, such as erythromycin ointment, all of which can help promote recovery of the affected area.

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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.