What care is needed for a cooking burn the day after injury?

Day-After Cooking Burn Care

Continue daily wound care with cleaning, application of petrolatum-based antibiotic ointment, and fresh non-adherent dressings, while monitoring closely for any signs of infection. 1, 2

Wound Assessment and Cleaning

The day after your burn injury, you need to evaluate the wound and perform proper cleaning:

• Remove the old dressing carefully and inspect the burn for signs of infection including increasing pain, redness, swelling, or purulent discharge 2
• Clean the wound thoroughly using clean running tap water, isotonic saline, or an antiseptic solution in a clean environment 1, 2
• Wound care may require pain medication beforehand, especially for larger or deeper burns 1, 2

Dressing Application Based on Burn Depth

For Superficial (First-Degree) Burns:

• Apply petrolatum, petrolatum-based antibiotic ointment, honey, or aloe vera after cleaning 1
• Cover with a clean, non-adherent dressing 1

For Partial-Thickness (Second-Degree) Burns:

• Apply a thin layer of petrolatum-based antibiotic ointment after cleaning 1, 2
• Cover with a non-adherent dressing such as Xeroform, Mepitel, or Allevyn 1
• Ideally, dressings should be re-evaluated daily 1, 2

Pain Management

• Continue over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs for ongoing discomfort 1
• Take pain medication 30-60 minutes before dressing changes if needed 1, 2

Critical Monitoring for Complications

Watch for these warning signs that require immediate medical attention:

• Increasing pain, redness, swelling, or pus indicating possible infection 2
• Fever or systemic symptoms 2
• Wound not improving or worsening appearance 1, 2
• Red streaking from the wound 2

Important Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not break any blisters that have formed, as this increases infection risk 1
• Do not apply topical antibiotics routinely to uninfected wounds—reserve these for wounds showing signs of infection 1, 2
• Avoid applying ice, butter, oil, or other home remedies at this stage 1, 3
• When applying dressings on limbs, prevent bandages from creating a tourniquet effect and monitor distal perfusion 1

When to Seek Medical Care

Seek immediate medical attention if:

• Signs of infection develop (increasing pain, redness, swelling, purulent discharge, fever) 1, 2
• The burn involves the face, hands, feet, or genitals 1, 3
• Partial-thickness burns cover >10% body surface area in adults (>5% in children) 1, 3
• Any full-thickness (third-degree) burns are present 1, 3