Applying butter to a burn is a widely known folk remedy, yet this common practice is a dangerous misconception that can worsen an injury. While it might initially seem to offer a soothing sensation, this home remedy actually creates conditions that can deepen the burn and lead to further complications. Understanding its harm and proper first aid is important for effective burn care.
Why Butter Harms Burns
Applying butter or other greasy substances to a burn is detrimental because these materials trap heat within the skin. This insulating layer prevents the heat from dissipating, potentially causing the burn to extend deeper into the tissue and increasing the severity of the injury. Butter is not sterile and can introduce bacteria to the compromised skin, significantly elevating infection risk and complicating healing.
Beyond trapping heat and promoting bacterial growth, greasy substances like butter create an additional challenge for medical professionals. Removing these oily residues from the burned area is often painful and can delay the necessary thorough cleaning and proper medical treatment. Butter also lacks any antiseptic, antibiotic, or long-term pain-relieving properties beneficial for burn treatment. Ultimately, butter offers no healing benefits and can worsen damage.
Proper First Aid for Burns
Immediately after a burn occurs, the primary action should be to cool the affected area. Hold the burn under cool, running tap water for 10 to 20 minutes. This cooling process helps to stop the burning, reduce pain, and minimize swelling in the affected tissues. Use cool water, not cold or icy, as excessively cold temperatures can cause further tissue damage or frostbite.
Promptly remove any rings, watches, belts, or tight clothing from the burned area. Do this gently and quickly, before swelling begins, to prevent constriction. After cooling, cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-stick dressing or plastic cling film to protect it from infection and reduce pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can be taken to help manage pain if needed.
It is important to avoid applying ice, butter, oils, lotions, creams, or any other home remedies to the burn. These substances can trap heat, introduce infection, or interfere with proper healing. Do not break any blisters that form, as they provide a natural protective barrier against infection.
When Professional Help is Needed
Certain burn characteristics necessitate immediate medical attention. Any burn larger than the size of the victim’s palm should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Deep burns, such as those that appear white, leathery, charred, or cause numbness, indicate more severe tissue damage and require prompt medical care. Burns located on sensitive areas like the face, hands, feet, genitals, or major joints also warrant professional assessment.
Medical attention is also advised for blisters larger than two inches in diameter. Signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, swelling, pus, or a fever, indicate a need for a doctor’s visit. Chemical or electrical burns, regardless of their apparent severity, require professional evaluation due to potential internal damage. Burns in infants, young children, or the elderly should always be assessed by a healthcare provider. For severe burns, call emergency services.