Second-Degree Burn (Partial-Thickness Burn)

Home care

Use pain medicine as directed. If no pain medicine was prescribed, you may use over-the-counter medicine to control pain. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, stomach ulcers, or digestive bleeding or if you take a blood thinner, talk with your health care provider before using acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen.

General care

• On the first day, you may put a cool compress on the wound to ease pain. A cool compress is a small towel soaked in cool water. Don't use ice as it can cause more damage.

• If you were sent home with the blister intact, don't break the blister. The risk for infection is greater if the blister breaks. But the blister may break on its own. Don't worry if this happens.

• If a bandage was applied, change it once a day, unless told otherwise. If the bandage becomes wet or soiled, change it as soon as you can.

• Sometimes an infection may occur even with proper treatment. Check the burn daily for the signs of infection that are listed below.

• Eat more calories and protein until your wound is healed. This is more important if you have a very large burn.

• Wear a hat, sunscreen, and long sleeves while in the sun to protect the skin.

• Don't pick or scratch at the wound. Keep your fingernails trimmed short. Use over-the-counter medicines like diphenhydramine for itching.

• Don't wear tight-fitting clothes.

To change a bandage:

• Wash your hands.

• Take off the old bandage. If the bandage sticks, soak it off under clean running water. Put the used bandage in a plastic bag, tie the top, and dispose of it.

• Once the bandage is off, gently wash the burn area with mild soap and clean running water to remove any cream, ointment, ooze, or scab. You may do this in a sink, under a tub faucet, or in the shower. Rinse off the soap and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

• Check for signs of infection that are listed below.

• Put any prescribed antibiotic cream or ointment on the wound.

• Cover the burn with nonstick gauze. Then wrap it with the bandage material.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your health care provider as advised.

When to get medical care

Call your health care provider right away if you have any signs of infection, such as:

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider.

• Pain that gets worse.

• Redness or swelling that gets worse.

• Pus coming out of the burn.

• Red streaks in your skin coming from the burn.

• Wound that doesn't seem to be healing.

• Nausea or vomiting.