Skin Healing: How to Help Minor Burns Heal

Minor burns are common injuries that we encounter in our daily lives. Whether caused by an accident in the kitchen or a mishap with a curling iron, minor burns can not only be uncomfortable in the moment but can take a while to heal. 

In this article, you will learn how to manage and help prevent minor burns, and how Aquaphor Healing Ointment® helps to create a protective environment to support healing. 

Minor burns can be caused by a number of different factors, from a splash of hot coffee to unknowingly quickly touching a hot stove.   

• Thermal burns are usually caused by quick direct contact with hot objects such as irons, hot pans from the oven, splashes of hot liquids, or steam. 
• Friction burns and chafing caused by the skin repeatedly rubbing against another surface such as carpeting, clothing, or skin on another part of the body. 

Depending on their severity, burns can cause swelling, blistering, scarring, and sometimes infection. For anything beyond a minor burn, or if a minor burn is showing signs of infection, be sure to contact a medical professional immediately. 

Minor burns affect the most superficial layer of skin (the epidermis).   

Mild burn symptoms may include: 

• Pain 
• Redness 
• Minor swelling 

Typically, minor burns recover on their own and don’t require special treatment. Here are some tips for what to do when a minor burn happens, and how to care for a minor burn at home: 

• Get away from the source of the burn as quickly as possible to stop any further burning. 
• Cool burned skin - As soon as the minor burn happens, soothe the affected area with cool running water or cold, wet compresses for approximately 10 minutes or until discomfort subsides. 
• Apply Aquaphor Healing Ointment® - Antibiotic-free, fragrance-free, petrolatum-based Aquaphor Healing Ointment® helps protect skin to enhance the natural healing process.  
• Cover the minor burn – Covering your minor burn with a sterile bandage can help further protect skin while it heals. 

Minor burns do not blister and tend to heal in three to six days without any scarring. If you notice changes in the color of the skin around the burn, swelling, pus, a sudden deepening of the burn, or a fever, these could all be signs of infection, and you should seek medical attention right away. 

How long to cover a minor burn depends on how fast the burn heals. For superficial minor burns, you may find you only need to keep your burn covered for a day or two until your skin feels more comfortable. Remember, minor burns should not blister.  

In the event that you develop a blister, this can be a sign of a more severe burn. Do not pop the blister, and be sure to follow up with a healthcare professional. 

Knowing what to put on a minor burn can mean the difference between lingering discomfort and soothing relief. Using Aquaphor Healing Ointment® on your minor burns after the burn has cooled creates a protective barrier on the wound while fostering an ideal moist healing environment. To create a consistently protected environment to allow skin healing to take place, apply Aquaphor Healing Ointment® daily until the burn has healed completely, covering it with a sterile bandage if needed. 

You can reapply Aquaphor Healing Ointment® as often as you like throughout the day or night to help keep your skin protected and soothed. 

For on-the-go minor wound care, Aquaphor Healing Ointment also comes in a convenient 3.5oz tube. 

Fortunately, many burns can be prevented. Most minor burns happen at home, so here are some tips to help prevent minor burns at home. 

• Always stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. Don’t get distracted by phone calls, someone calling from another room, etc.  
• Wear oven mitts when taking something out of a hot oven.  
• Turn pot and pan handles toward the back or center of the oven so that they cannot be knocked over. 
• Open covers and lids of hot pans away from you and wear oven mitts when opening, because steam can easily scald your wrists and hands.  
• Keep items such as dish towels, plastic bags, and long sleeves away from the heating surface.  
• Be careful around heaters 
• Never reach over a candle 
• Be sure to touch only the instructed areas on air fryers and toaster ovens 
• Don’t touch a hot curling iron, hair straightener, or metal areas of hot beauty appliances 

Occasional minor burns are bound to happen, but the healing process doesn’t always have to be long and uncomfortable. By keeping your minor burn clean, monitoring for signs of infection, and keeping skin protected with Aquaphor Healing Ointment®, you can help give your skin the soothing support it needs to heal. 

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:  

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin  
2. Improve the appearance of the skin  
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin