From the Guidelines
For a minor first degree burn, the preferred method of treatment is to immediately cool the burn with cool running water for at least 10 minutes to stop the burning process and reduce pain, as recommended by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1. The cooling process should be done with cool, not cold, running water to avoid causing further tissue damage. After cooling, the area can be gently cleaned with mild soap and water.
- It may be reasonable to apply petrolatum, petrolatum-based antibiotic ointment, honey, or aloe vera and a clean nonadherent dressing to open burn wounds, as suggested by the 2024 guidelines 1.
- The burn can be loosely covered with a clean cloth or nonadherent dry dressing while awaiting evaluation by a healthcare professional, as recommended by the 2024 guidelines 1. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can be used to manage pain, as stated in the 2024 guidelines 1.
- It is essential to avoid using ice directly on burns, as it can cause further tissue damage, and to avoid applying butter, toothpaste, or other home remedies.
- Additionally, it is crucial to avoid breaking any blisters that form, as this increases infection risk. First degree burns typically heal within 7-10 days.
- If the burn covers a large area, affects sensitive areas like the face or genitals, or shows signs of infection (increasing pain, redness, swelling, or discharge), it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly, as recommended by the 2015 guidelines 1.
From the Research
Minor 1st Degree Burn Treatment
- The primary goal of treating minor 1st degree burns is to promote healing, prevent infection, and minimize scarring 2.
- Topical antimicrobial agents are commonly used to control microbial colonization and prevent burn wound infection 3, 4, 2, 5.
- Silver sulfadiazine is a frequently used topical prophylactic agent due to its effectiveness against most burn pathogens, ease of application, and relatively low cost 3, 5.
- Other topical agents, such as bacitracin, neomycin, and mafenide, may also be used to treat minor 1st degree burns, depending on the specific clinical scenario and burn severity 2, 5.
- The use of silver-containing dressings is generally recommended over antiseptics or antibiotics, regardless of the depth of the burn 5.
- Cooling the burn with running water is a recommended first aid intervention, but the ideal duration of cooling remains unclear, with some studies suggesting no benefit to cooling for 20 minutes or more 6.
Topical Antimicrobial Agents
- Silver sulfadiazine is the most recommended topical antimicrobial agent in low-resource settings 5.
- Compounded preparations of topical antimicrobials, such as 1:1:1 + Double Antibiotic and 3:1 + Double Antibiotic, have shown effectiveness against a broad spectrum of microorganisms 4.
- The development of topical antimicrobial resistance is a concern and requires further study 4.