Burns and scalds occur when your skin is damaged by heat. The majority of them occur at home or in the workplace.
Burns and scalds occur when your skin is damaged by heat. The majority of them occur at home or in the workplace.
Women and children are more affected in the home, with burns here often caused by boiling pots and pans of water or open flames in the kitchen, while men are more affected in the workplace due to fire, electricity and chemicals.
You should go to hospital immediately if you have a large or deep burn that’s bigger than your hand, regardless of the cause.
You should also seek medical attention if your burn was caused by any of the following:
Children under 5 and pregnant women are at greater risk from the effect of burns, and should also see a doctor following a burn.
Burns and scalds can be painful and may cause red or peeling skin, swelling, blisters, or white or charred skin.
A burn is an injury to the skin caused by dry heat, like a hot pan, while a scald is caused by something wet, like boiling water. Both are treated the same way.
As soon as a burn happens, there are steps you should take to treat it as soon as possible.
You should move away from the source of the heat and cool the burn under running lukewarm or cold water for 20 minutes.
This will reduce any swelling or pain and reduce the risk of scarring -- and the faster you do this, the lower the impact of the burn.
You should remove any clothing or jewellery that’s near the burnt skin, but not if it’s stuck to your skin, and cover the affected area of your skin with cling film or a clean plastic bag.
The plastic will keep air away from the burn, which will reduce the pain, while also not sticking to it.
Make sure you keep warm, such as by using a blanket, but prevent any material from touching your burn.
Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help to treat any pain you’re experiencing.
If your burn is minor, you should continue to keep it clean and avoid bursting any blisters that form. If you’re concerned at all, you should see a doctor.
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.