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Burn Care
When your skin is damaged by a burn, turn to Essentia Health for care that helps you heal and prevents infection. Find care for all types of burns including chemical burns, electrical burns, sunburns, and thermal (heat) burns, including frostbite.
Burn care is provided across Essentia Health by primary care providers and emergency room physicians.
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Types of Burns
Burns are classified into four levels of severity:
- First-degree burns – Hurt only the outer layer of skin; cause redness
- Second-degree burns – Affect multiple layers of skin; cause blisters and visible thickening of the skin
- Third-degree burns – Hurt all layers of skin; cause thickening and a white, leathery appearance
- Fourth-degree burns – Damage skin and tendons and bones beneath the skin
When To Get Help for a Burn
Call 911 or get care at your local emergency department if a burn:
- Affects your face, hands, or feet; a joint; or another sensitive area
- Harms inner layers of skin
- Makes breathing difficult or painful
- Is caused by chemicals or electricity
- Causes severe or increasing pain
- Is white or black in color
It can take 24 to 48 hours to determine the full depth and impact of a burn.
Home First Aid for Burns
Minor burns that are smaller than three inches can often be treated at home. To soothe pain, redness, and swelling:
- Gently remove tight clothing or other items from the area
- Hold the area under cool, running water for 10 minutes
- Use moisturizer, such as aloe vera lotion
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
Don’t put ice directly on your skin. Don’t break blisters. If blisters break on their own, clean the area with soap and water and use an antibiotic cream.
When to Call Your Doctor
After a burn, call your doctor if you:
- Develop large blisters
- Notice oozing from the wound
- Have increased pain, redness, or swelling
If you need a specialist’s care to help your burn injury heal, your doctor may refer you to a wound clinic in your community.