Ouch! I Just Burnt My Arm - What Can I Do to Speed Up The Healing?!
Question: It's only about an inch in diameter, but man does it hurt! I'm icing it and icing it and icing it....after I run out of ice and let it air out, is there anything in particular that I can do to help speed up the recovery? Any nice creams out there?
Answers: It's only about an inch in diameter, but man does it hurt! I'm icing it and icing it and icing it....after I run out of ice and let it air out, is there anything in particular that I can do to help speed up the recovery? Any nice creams out there?
What are you doing is absolutely correct. If the burn is just a red area, there is nothing more to be done, and it should resolve in a day or two. Unfortunately, often, as soon as you stop icing it, the pain returns. Fortunately, you can ice it as long as is possible.
Whatever you do, do NOT use topical (skin) preparations. They will not help and may actually delay healing. Above all, do NOT use hydrocortisone cream, or cortisporin, or any related medications, as they actually delay healing, which is exactly what you DON'T want.
If the wound develops a bubble, or blister (we call them "vesicles,") then you have a second degree burn. It is tempting to pop the bubble. Don't do it. If you cannot get to a doctor, heat a pin with a flame for 30 seconds, and then carefully poke the bubble. Allow most of the fluid to drain out. You may need to poke two or three SMALL holes; but under no circumstances should you attempt to remove the skin covering, as that is protection against infection.
You can then get some 2"by2" telfa pads from a pharmacy, and gently place one over the burn, and fasten it in place on either side of the burn with paper tape, if it is available in the pharmacy.
If the vesicle bursts and the underlying skin is exposed, it is critical to protect it from the outside for fear of infection. In this case, you can gently cover it with the telfa pad, as I described above, and get some Silvadene cream to put on top, replacing the dressing daily, covering the telfa pad with a 4X4 inch gauze pad, a package of which you can buy at the pharmacy.
Excedrin is the best OTC medication for pain. You can also use Advil or Alleve, together with one tablet of tyelenol.
Put Aloe on it.
Or Silver Iodine.
oooh..i know what to do since iv burnt myself so many times...but your goin the right way..ice ice n ice..if youve run out then use frozen food bags or frozen veggies or sumtn..it WILL HELP..n after your arms going to have a red smudgey mark on it..dont worry it will fade but then you will be left with a mark..use COACO BUTTER.. it reely helps make the scar fade..its really cheap and you can get it just about anywhere..the palmers one is the best..
good luck (n in future try n b more careful..) :p
Aloe vera gel. Get the kind that is 99% pure, not the kind for sunburn with additives. Aloe vera plant is called the "burn plant" because it is exceptionally good at calming the inflammation from a burn and healing a burn.
You can get it at a health food store, if not a drug store.
Ointments don't allow a burn to breathe, and make it oozy. Use a gel. Cocoa butter is good for scars from burns, after they have healed, but cocoa butter is NOT good for treating a new burn because coca butter is OILY and doesn't allow the burn to breathe.
Don't put ANYTHING on it until it airs out. Then put some aloe on it. If you put it on to soon then it will take more time to heal.
goldbon always works i burnt my finger the other day and it worked
DONT USE ICE! THE ICE WILL MAKE THE BURN STAY LONGER! WHAT I SUGGEST IS DIPPING YOUR ARM IN WARM NOT HOT BUT WARM WATER........UNTIL YOUR ARM GETS BETTER.