This article was medically reviewed by Jonas DeMuro, MD. Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow.
There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 123,931 times.
A second degree burn can be really painful, but in most cases, it's pretty easy to care for at home. First, evaluate how deep and serious the burn is. Then, rinse the burn in cool, clean water and apply appropriate bandages. If the second-degree burn is no larger than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, treat it as a minor burn. If the burned area is larger or covers the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks or a major joint, treat it as a major burn and get medical help immediately.[1]
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Most second-degree burns heal in two to three weeks.Thanks
Warnings
- Do not pop blisters.Thanks
- Do not apply any butter, mayonnaise, or oils to your burn.Thanks
References
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Burns-and-scalds/Pages/Introduction.aspx
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000030.htm
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000030.htm
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649
- ↑ http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/june/thermal-burns-assessment-and-acute-management/
- ↑ http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/june/thermal-burns-assessment-and-acute-management/
- ↑ http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/june/thermal-burns-assessment-and-acute-management/
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000030.htm
- ↑ http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/june/thermal-burns-assessment-and-acute-management
- ↑ http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/june/thermal-burns-assessment-and-acute-management/
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000030.htm
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Burns-and-scalds/Pages/Introduction.aspx
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000030.htm
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000030.htm
About this article
To treat second degree burns caused by heat, remain calm and quickly remove the heat source causing the burn. Next, remove any clothing or jewelry close to the burn and rinse the affected area thoroughly with cool water for about 5 minutes, or until the stinging stops. If the skin is broken, clean the area with a mild soap, then pat it dry and apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment. Finally, bandage the burned area loosely and be sure to change the bandage every 48 hours to prevent infection. For tips on recognizing an infected burn and how to treat it, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "It helped me determine that I have a second degree burn on my arm and the proper treatment. I wasn't sure if hydrogen peroxide was safe to use on my burn, but the information provided tells me it is safe."..." more
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.