Burn Remedies, please hurry

[fixer]

I just spilled hot grease on my hand. I am not a stranger to burns. Something about hot steel attracting my flesh. This, however seems different. It is still burning after an hour. I see several blisters forming. Any suggestions on stopping the burn?

[Nana2two]

Very cold water with ice in a bowl to stop blistering. If its that bad u need to go to the ER.

[ladytoysdream]

I would try some cold water if it was me. That's what I always head for.
Don't put something like vaseline on it as that will trap the heat in.
Can you call an emergency room, or your doctor to get their advice ?
How big of an area is this burn ?
You may have a second degree burn if you are blistering.

[madhen]

I think you're sunk, fixer. No stopping a burn that has already happened.

My handy dandy emergency guide says for "minor" burns (which it defines as only the outer layer of skin over fairly small area, causing reddening and blistering) you should apply cold compresses to the skin at intervals and take aspirin. It recommends covering blisters with a light dressing if there is a possibility that you will break them (ie, they will be rubbed by a sleeve or something).

[spyzvixxen]

I second a visit to the ER or walk-in place...better to be safe than sorry and pay more down the line health-wise and pocket-wise. Ice cold water and a light dressing also sound like a plan to me. Hang in there!

[fixer]

It seems to be getting better. I used ice water immediately after with some success. I just finished washing dishes and the hot water started it burning again. Go figure, right. The blisters cover most of my thumb. It probably needs to be looked at, but I have tomatoes to can this evening. I will try to keep it in cold water as much as possible. I appreciate the help. All I knew to do was curse and that did not help at all.

[Michelle]

Ouch! I burned the tip of my thumb before, and for some reason it hurt worse than any other burn I've ever had (I used to work for a restaurant w/a pressure cooker, pizza oven, and grill--so I've had my share of burns).

Anyway, my sil swears by this stuff called Burn Jel (misspelling intentional). She had a burn once, and someone recommended it to her. Now she always has it on hand (oops no pun intended).

I hope you're on your way to pain-free soon.

[frugalfranny]

OUCH!!! Fixer.......thanks for the update.

Yep, agree with the ice cubes/ice water thing.....even after the burning has stopped. They debunked the vaseline thing a few years back for the reason stated by poster....keeps the heat in.

I would keep it covered with a gauze pad to help keep things from rubbing and to help keep out infection......and it will 'eventually' drain I would guess.

Take care of it!! You don't need an infection!!!

[canadamom]

Buy the over the counter medicine called Aqua Phor. It is sometimes behind the counter. It is expensive @$10 but it is the ONLY med you will need. It is a fantastic ointment.

[Jamauk]

I had a fairly large second degree burn on my arm several years ago and the only thing that made it feel better was sitting at the sink with cool (not cold, as it can induce shock) running over it. Plunging it in water or keeping an ice pack on it only helped while the ice was on it, but it too (because its covering the burn) can hold the heat in. Once you remove the ice pack the heat flies back up to the surface.

The running water over it (I had to sit at the sink for about an hour) allowed all of the heat to rise to the surface but also kept the wound in teh fresh air. After the burning subsided I kept it covered in gauze as I had a fairly large blister.

I hope this helps and you find some relief!

[groundhog]

take a wet tea bag and put it on the burn i think it is something in the tanic acid in the tea that takes away the sting oh make sure it is a cold tea bag not hot lol

[dcompton]

Now that the pain is dealt with you could ask your pharmacist for a recommendation for an ointment for it if you are concerned it could become infected.

I cringe to think of how much it must have hurt. I once did that to a hand -- I slept all night with my arm hanging over the edge of the bed with my hand in a bucket of water. Awkward, but the next day my doctor said I did the right thing - it kept the swelling down. He said with hands, they worry about swelling because it can compromise circulation to the fingers. That was some years ago. I don't know if this is still medical orthodoxy, but it made sense.

Yes, hot water will indeed make it burn again. Actually, when my hand became warm, from hot water, or even just being out in the summer heat, it would turn red, or later, reddish, over the burn area -- this lasted about six months. That was what I found most surprising.

[hestlauss]

Fixer, I am so sorry for your pain...I went to the E/R earlier this year after accidentally touching a hot muffler with palm of my hand - constant pain (unless hand was submerged in cold water) and bad blistering from 1st & 2nd degree burn. E/R doctor gave me tube of 1% Silver Sulfadzine cream. This cream is wonderful. After using the cream the blister went down significantly the next day and I did not miss any work (was able to type all day with little pain) just kept it covered with gauze and now I cannot even tell I was ever burned (no scarring at all). I do not know how expensive it was as my insurance paid for it and Aflac accident insurance paid for E/R deductible but it was treally worth waiting 5 hours in E/R to get the Silver Sulfadiazine and the pain medicine so that I could get some sleep. I hope your burn heals as well as mine did.

[pollypurebred39]

My oldest son just had a dangerous burn and needed the silver cream. Was able to get the exact same stuff under a different name at the health food store. colloidal silver comes in a spray, salve or a dropper. He bought the salve for $7.95. His burns were on his face and ear he is healing nicely now.

[zakity]

Apple cider vinegar is supposed to help also. The good stuff with the mother (unfiltered) in it is supposed to be better than the stuff without it.