What should I do if I get a burn on my face?

Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
Updated on January 02, 2025
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If a burn occurs on the face, first rinse the burned area with running tap water or immerse the burned part of the face in a basin of tap water to promptly reduce the temperature of the burn site and lessen heat damage to the deeper tissues. Be sure the water is not too cold and generally rinse or soak for about 30 minutes, until the pain at the wound site significantly eases, and then rinsing or soaking may be discontinued. After rinsing or soaking in cool water, observe the burned area. If the burn site is slightly purple and red, you can apply some burn ointment at home. If there are obvious blisters or the skin is broken, protect the burn site with a clean towel and go to the nearest hospital burn department for professional medical treatment quickly. Be sure to protect the blisters on the burn site to avoid bursting them.

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Written by Chen Xiao Jun
Emergency Department
39sec home-news-image

How many days will it take for a burn on the finger to heal?

The relief from a finger burn can take days, depending on the severity of the burn and the extent of damage to the skin, soft tissues, and muscles. For mild burns, only the epidermal layer is damaged, and in general, such cases will gradually heal within about a week. On the other hand, if the burn affects the skin, soft tissues, and muscles, recovery can take a very long time, especially if complications such as infections occur, which will extend the treatment period. After burning a finger, do not blindly treat it at home; instead, seek analysis and a subsequent treatment plan from a professional doctor.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
47sec home-news-image

Can you drink alcohol after a burn?

After a burn, it is not advisable to drink alcohol. This is because the burn site is in the repair phase of healing and has not fully recovered. During this period, more nutrients and a relatively normal metabolic state are required. Alcohol or alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which can cause dilation of blood vessels and skin, as well as an increase in heart contraction. It can also lead to an increase in skin exudation, thereby worsening the condition of the burn wound, or causing infection at the wound, leading to inflammatory symptoms. The patient may experience itchiness at the burn site. Therefore, it is not advisable to drink alcohol after a burn to avoid delaying the healing process at the burnt area.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
48sec home-news-image

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

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
52sec home-news-image

What should I do if I get a burn on my face?

If a burn occurs on the face, first rinse the burned area with running tap water or immerse the burned part of the face in a basin of tap water to promptly reduce the temperature of the burn site and lessen heat damage to the deeper tissues. Be sure the water is not too cold and generally rinse or soak for about 30 minutes, until the pain at the wound site significantly eases, and then rinsing or soaking may be discontinued. After rinsing or soaking in cool water, observe the burned area. If the burn site is slightly purple and red, you can apply some burn ointment at home. If there are obvious blisters or the skin is broken, protect the burn site with a clean towel and go to the nearest hospital burn department for professional medical treatment quickly. Be sure to protect the blisters on the burn site to avoid bursting them.

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home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
1min 7sec home-news-image

Can iodophor be used to disinfect burns?

After a burn, it is possible to disinfect with povidone-iodine. Povidone-iodine has a broad spectrum of antibacterial effects and can kill proliferating bacteria, fungi, and some viruses. After a burn occurs on the skin, the first step is to reduce the temperature of the skin, which can be done by soaking in running tap water or cold water for more than half an hour to alleviate pain. Then, disinfect with povidone-iodine. After disinfecting with povidone-iodine, apply burn moistening cream locally, and then wrap it with sterile gauze. Change the dressing once a day, and after dressing, try not to come into contact with water to prevent infection. Also, avoid friction between the wound and the gauze, as this could affect the healing of the wound. Generally, mild burns can heal in about two weeks.