From the Guidelines
For a blister from a steamer burn, the initial steps should include cooling the burn with running water, leaving the blister intact, and covering it with a clean, non-adherent dressing, as recommended by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1. The first step in managing a steamer burn blister is to cool the burn by running cool water over the area for 10-15 minutes to stop the burning process and reduce pain, as suggested by the 2024 guidelines 1. After cooling, the area should be gently cleaned with mild soap and water, then patted dry with a clean towel. If the blister is intact, it should be left alone, as the fluid inside protects against infection and aids healing, according to the 2010 American Heart Association and American Red Cross international consensus on first aid science with treatment recommendations 1. The blister should be covered with a sterile, non-stick bandage or dressing, such as a hydrocolloid dressing, changing it daily or when it becomes wet or dirty. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can be taken as needed for pain, as recommended by the 2024 guidelines 1. It is essential to elevate the affected area if possible to reduce swelling and seek medical attention if the burn is larger than 3 inches, appears deep, involves the face, hands, feet, genitals, or major joints, or if signs of infection develop. Some key points to consider when managing a steamer burn blister include:
- Cooling the burn with running water to reduce pain and prevent further injury
- Leaving the blister intact to promote healing and prevent infection
- Covering the blister with a clean, non-adherent dressing to protect the area and promote healing
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers as needed to manage pain
- Elevating the affected area to reduce swelling
- Seeking medical attention if the burn is severe or signs of infection develop.
From the Research
Initial Steps for Burn Blister Care
- The initial steps for taking care of a blister from a steamer burn involve puncturing the blister in a sterile way, keeping the overlying skin as a biological cover, and applying a moist sterile biological dressing 2.
- The fluid in the blister, which is rich in proteins such as immunoglobulins, various cytokines, prostaglandins, and interleukins, can be aspirated and immediately sprayed over the other areas of the same wound as an adjuvant therapy for second-degree superficial burn wounds 2.
Prevention of Infection
- Infection is a major concern in burn wound care, and topical antimicrobial agents play a crucial role in preventing infection 3, 4, 5.
- Silver-containing dressings are often recommended over antiseptics or antibiotics, regardless of the depth of the burn 4.
- Silver sulfadiazine is a commonly recommended topical antimicrobial in low-resource settings 4.
Wound Healing and Management
- Early burn wound excision and skin grafting are common clinical practices that have improved outcomes for severe burn injured patients 6.
- However, slow wound healing, infection, pain, and hypertrophic scarring remain major challenges in burn research and management 6.
- Topical antimicrobial agents can help bridge the gap between wound excision and wound closure, and can be used to optimize operative outcomes and provide non-operative wound care when appropriate 5.