Burns First Aid: The 20-Minute Rule and 7 Home Remedies That Make Burns Worse

Burns are among the most common injuries at home, especially in children, and many are made worse by well-meaning home remedies. The first few minutes make a big difference to how well a burn heals.

A splash of boiling water, a child screaming, and an older relative reaching for butter. You stop them, put the burn under cool running water and set a timer for 20 minutes. Days later, the burn heals with no scar.

What to do immediately

1. Stop the burning. Move away from the heat source. For burning clothes: stop, drop and roll.
2. Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes. This helps even if started up to 3 hours after the injury. Do not use ice or iced water.
3. Remove jewellery and clothing near the burn, unless it is stuck to the skin.
4. Keep the person warm while you cool the burn, especially children.
5. Cover the burn loosely with cling film laid on top (not wrapped round) or a clean, non-fluffy dressing.
6. Take pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if suitable.

7 things never to put on a burn

• Butter or oil
• Toothpaste
• Raw egg
• Ice
• Flour or powders
• Fluffy cotton wool or tissue that sticks to the wound
• Traditional pastes or herbs, which can cause infection

When to get medical help

• Any burn larger than the size of the person’s hand
• Burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals or over joints
• Deep burns that look white, brown or charred, even if they are not painful
• Chemical and electrical burns
• Burns in babies, young children, older adults, pregnant women or people with diabetes
• Breathing problems, smoke inhalation or burns around the mouth
• Blisters that are large or signs of infection later

After the first day

Do not burst blisters. Keep the area clean and covered, and watch for signs of infection: increasing pain, redness, swelling, pus or fever. Healed burns can be sensitive to sunlight for months, so protect them with clothing or sunscreen.

Prevention at home

• Keep hot drinks out of children’s reach and never hold a child while drinking something hot
• Turn pan handles inwards
• Run cold water first, then hot, when running a bath
• Fit smoke alarms and keep matches and lighters locked away

“But isn’t cold water from the tap too harsh? Ice would be quicker.”

Ice and iced water can damage the skin further and cause hypothermia, especially in children. Cool running tap water is gentle, effective and recommended by burns specialists worldwide.

Related: Wound dressings guide

Sources: World Health Organization burns fact sheet; British Burn Association first aid guidance; NHS burns and scalds advice.