Treatments for Holiday Burns and Cuts
As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, accidental burns and cuts are an all-to-frequent occurrence as we prepare for family and friends. We offer suggestions for treatment of burns and cuts:
Treatments for Minor Burns
- Cool compresses: Soak paper towels or washcloths in ice water and drape it over the affected area to relieve pain.
- Hydrogels: Regeneration of the epidermis (the upper layer of skin) occurs best in a moist environment. Hydrogels are mostly water combined with natural or synthetic polymers. Their high water content allows hydrogels to have great flexibility similar to natural tissue. Consider applying a hydrogel dressing, such as Vigilon or 2nd Skin, to minor burn wounds. Some suggest freezing the dressing prior to application to aid pain relief.
- Elevation: When possible, elevate the burn site above your heart. This limits accumulation of fluid around the wound and allows the area to heal more quickly.
Treatments for Minor Cuts
- Emollients such as petrolatum (Vaseline) or Aquaphor help to keep the wound moist and speed healing. Unless cuts are dirty, we do not recommend topical antibiotics such as Neosporin or Polysporin because of the risk of skin allergy. Published studies show that such antibiotic ointments offer no advantage over plain Vaseline for most cuts.