From the Guidelines
Treatment for second-degree sunburns on the lower extremities should prioritize immediate cooling with running water, as recommended by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1. The goal is to reduce the need for subsequent care and promote healing.
- Cooling of the burn with running water is an established and beneficial intervention with little risk of harm, as supported by a meta-analysis of observational data 1.
- After cooling, 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 guidelines 1.
- Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can be given to manage pain from thermal burns, as recommended by the guidelines 1.
- It is also reasonable to loosely cover a burn that has intact skin or an intact blister with a clean cloth or nonadherent dry dressing while awaiting evaluation by a healthcare professional 1. Key considerations for treatment include:
- Pain management with over-the-counter medications
- Prevention of infection with topical antibiotics and clean dressings
- Promotion of healing with aloe vera or other soothing gels
- Elevation of the affected area to reduce swelling
- Avoidance of sun exposure to the burned areas until fully healed
- Monitoring for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, swelling, or pus, and seeking medical attention if necessary.