From the Guidelines
Scald burns should be dressed with a nonadherent bandage or clean cloth to protect the wound and reduce pain. This approach is supported by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid, which recommend covering partial- or full-thickness burns with a nonadherent bandage or clean cloth to protect the wound and reduce pain while avoiding heat entrapment until the burn can be assessed by a healthcare professional 1.
Key Considerations for Dressing Scald Burns
- The dressing should be nonadherent to prevent further damage to the wound
- A clean cloth can be used if a nonadherent bandage is not available
- The primary goal of dressing is to protect the wound, reduce pain, and prevent infection
- It is essential to seek medical attention if the burn is large, deep, or located on sensitive areas such as the face, hands, or feet
Best Practices for Scald Burn Care
- Cool the burn with cool running water for 10-20 minutes before dressing
- Apply a sterile, non-stick dressing to the cooled burn
- Change the dressing every 24-48 hours or as directed by a healthcare provider
- Consider applying an antibiotic ointment before dressing for minor burns By following these guidelines and best practices, healthcare providers can provide effective care for scald burns and promote optimal outcomes in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.
From the FDA Drug Label
The grafted area should be covered with one layer of fine mesh gauze. An eight-ply burn dressing should be cut to the size of the graft and wetted with Mafenide Acetate 5% Topical Solution Wound dressings may be left undisturbed, except for the irrigations, for up to five days
Dressing a scald burn is recommended. The burn area should be covered with a dressing, such as an eight-ply burn dressing, and kept wet with a topical solution, such as Mafenide Acetate 5% Topical Solution 2.
From the Research
Dressing Options for Scald Burns
- Hydrocolloid dressings have been shown to yield superior results in terms of complete healing of scalds, healing time, and the mean number of dressings required to achieve healing 3
- Hydrogel dressings have been employed universally to accelerate wound healing based on their unique properties to overcome the limitations of existing treatment methods 4
- Hydrogel dressings exhibit a great number of beneficial properties and are the most favourable for use in burns patients 5
Comparison of Dressing Options
- Many dressings, including hydrocolloid and hydrogel dressings, have shown superior healing properties compared to silver sulphadiazine (SSD) 6
- Silver-sulfadiazine-impregnated collagen (SIC) dressing has been shown to improve wound healing, control infection, and reduce pain in second-degree burn wounds compared to conventional dressings 7
Recommendations for Scald Burn Dressing
- Hydrocolloid dressings should constitute the preferred choice of dressing for managing superficial and deep partial thickness scalds in the pediatric population 3
- Hydrogel dressings and SIC dressings may also be considered as viable options for dressing scald burns due to their beneficial properties and improved healing outcomes 4, 5, 7