Treatment for Scald Burn on Foot with Blister
Immediately cool the burn with clean running water for 5-20 minutes, leave the blister intact, apply petrolatum-based antibiotic ointment, cover with a clean non-adherent dressing, and seek medical evaluation because burns involving the feet require specialized assessment to prevent permanent disability. 1
Immediate Cooling
- Cool the burn with clean running water for 5-20 minutes to reduce pain, edema, and depth of injury 1
- This intervention speeds healing and may reduce the need for surgical excision and grafting 1
- Do not apply ice directly to the burn as this can cause tissue ischemia and further injury 1, 2
- Monitor for hypothermia during cooling, though this is more critical in children and with larger burns 1, 3
Blister Management
- Leave the blister intact and cover it loosely with a clean, non-adherent dressing 1
- Keeping blisters intact improves healing and reduces pain 1
- Do not break or puncture the blister as this increases infection risk 3, 2
Wound Care After Cooling
- Remove any jewelry or constrictive items from the foot before swelling occurs 3, 2
- After cooling, apply petrolatum-based antibiotic ointment (such as bacitracin) to the burn 1, 2, 4
- Cover with a clean, non-adherent dressing 1, 2
- For pain control, over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs are reasonable 1, 2
Critical Reason for Medical Evaluation
Burns involving the feet require professional medical assessment regardless of size because:
- The American Burn Association recommends that partial-thickness burns involving the feet be treated in specialized burn centers due to the likely need for specialized treatments to prevent permanent disability 1
- Burns on the feet may require surgical intervention to prevent functional impairment 1
- The presence of a 1-inch diameter blister indicates a partial-thickness (second-degree) burn that involves destruction of the epidermis and injury to deeper layers 1
- Multiple smaller burns increase the total body surface area affected and complicate management 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not apply butter, oil, or home remedies to the burns 3, 2
- Do not use ice directly on the burn 1, 2
- Do not delay seeking medical attention for foot burns with blistering 2
- Avoid prolonged use of silver sulfadiazine on superficial burns as it may delay healing 3
Follow-up Monitoring
- Frequent reevaluation is necessary after burn injury to monitor for signs of infection 5
- Watch for increased pain, redness, warmth, purulent drainage, or fever which indicate infection requiring immediate medical attention 2, 6
- Burns are immunosuppressive injuries that predispose patients to infectious complications 6