Most burns are minor injuries that occur at home or work. It is common to get a minor burn from hot water, a curling iron, or touching a hot stove. Home treatment is usually all that is needed for healing and to prevent other problems, such as infection.

 

There are many types of burns.

·        Heat burns (thermal burns) are caused by fire, steam, hot objects, or hot liquids. Scald burns with hot liquid are the most common burns to children and older adults.

·        Electrical burns are caused by contact with electrical sources or by lightning.

·        Chemical burns are caused by contact with household or industrial chemicals in a liquid, solid, or gas form.

·        Radiation burns are caused by the sun, tanning booths, sunlamps, X-rays, or radiation therapy for cancer treatment.

·        Friction burns are caused by contact with any hard surface such as roads ("road rash"), carpets, or gym floor surfaces. They are usually both a scrape (abrasion) and a heat burn.

 

Most minor burns will heal on their own, and home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms and promote healing. But if you suspect you may have a more severe injury, use first-aid measures while you arrange for an evaluation by your doctor.

 

·        For home treatment of burns and sunburns:

·        Use cool cloths on burned areas.

·        Take frequent cool showers or baths.

·        Apply soothing lotions to burned areas to relieve pain and swelling. Note : Do not use the cream on children younger than age 2 unless your doctor tells you to.

·        There isn't much you can do to stop skin from peeling after a sunburn-it is part of the healing process. Lotion may help relieve the itching.