Burns

A burn is damage to the skin from heat, steam, hot liquids, chemicals, electricity, or the sun. Knowing how to treat a burn in the first few minutes helps it heal faster. Most small burns heal at home, but deeper burns need care.

What Is It

Burns are graded by how deep they go. First degree burns affect only the top layer of skin and look red, like a sunburn. Second degree burns go deeper and form blisters. Third degree burns damage all layers and can look white, brown, or leathery. Kitchen scalds are the most common burns in children.

Symptoms

Red, painful skin
Swelling
Blisters filled with clear fluid
Wet, shiny skin under a broken blister
White, charred, or leathery skin that may not hurt
Peeling as the burn heals

Not sure how deep the burn is? Blisters mean a second degree burn. Skin that is white or leathery and numb may be third degree, which needs the ER. A burn that gets more red, swollen, and painful after day 2 may be infected, like cellulitis.

Treatment

At your visit: A provider checks the depth and size of the burn and cleans it. Treatment may include removing dead skin, a medicated dressing, pain relief, and a tetanus shot. Larger or deeper burns may need a burn specialist.

At home:

Run cool, not cold, water over the burn for 10 to 20 minutes
Remove rings and tight items before swelling starts
Cover with a clean, nonstick bandage
Do not use ice, butter, oil, or toothpaste, and do not pop blisters

First degree burns heal in about a week. Second degree burns usually heal in 2 to 3 weeks.

When to Get Care for a Burn

Watch at Home

Red, painful skin with no blisters
A small burn smaller than a coin
Pain easing with cool water and over the counter medicine

Come to Urgent Care Today

Blisters larger than a quarter, or many blisters
A burn on the hand, foot, face, or over a joint
Signs of infection, like pus, spreading redness, or fever
A burn in a young child or older adult
Your tetanus shot is more than 5 years old

Go to the Emergency Department

A burn larger than the palm of your hand with blisters
White, charred, or leathery skin
A chemical or electrical burn
A burn that wraps around an arm, leg, or finger
Smoke exposure, a burned face, or trouble breathing

FAQ

How do you treat a burn at home?

To treat a burn at home, run cool water over it for 10 to 20 minutes, then cover it with a clean, nonstick bandage. Use over the counter pain relievers as directed.

Should I pop a burn blister?

Do not pop a burn blister. The blister protects the skin underneath from infection. If it breaks on its own, wash it gently and cover it with a clean bandage.

How do I know if a burn is second degree?

A second degree burn forms blisters, looks wet or shiny, and is very painful. It goes deeper than a first degree burn and may need medical care.

What should you not put on a burn?

Do not put ice, butter, oil, toothpaste, or egg whites on a burn. These can trap heat, damage skin, or cause infection. Use cool running water instead.

Can urgent care treat burns?

Yes, urgent care can treat most minor and second degree burns. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can clean and dress the burn and update your tetanus shot.

When is a burn an emergency?

A burn is an emergency when it is larger than your palm with blisters, looks white or charred, is from chemicals or electricity, or involves smoke or the airway.

Last reviewed October 2026