For most minor burns, plain petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) or pure aloe vera gel is the best thing to apply. You don’t need anything fancy, and you definitely don’t need an antibiotic cream. The goal is to keep the burned skin moist so it can heal faster and hurt less while you protect it from infection with a clean bandage.
What you should use depends on how deep the burn is, so let’s break that down.
First-Degree Burns: Keep It Simple
A first-degree burn only affects the outer layer of skin. It looks red, feels painful, and might swell slightly, but there are no blisters. Sunburns and brief contact with a hot pan are common examples. These heal on their own within a week or so.
For these burns, MedlinePlus recommends applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly or aloe vera after cooling the burn under cool (not cold) running water for 10 to 20 minutes. That’s it. The ointment keeps the wound from drying out, which reduces pain and speeds up skin repair. Reapply every time you change the bandage, typically once or twice a day.
Petroleum jelly works just as well as antibiotic ointments for preventing infection. A well-known study comparing the two found no significant difference in infection rates, and nonantibiotic ointments are now preferred because antibiotic creams like bacitracin or neomycin can trigger allergic reactions that make things worse.
Why Aloe Vera Is Worth Considering
Aloe vera isn’t just folk medicine. A systematic review analyzing multiple studies found that burns treated with aloe vera healed nearly nine days faster on average than untreated burns. It works on both first and shallow second-degree burns by promoting the growth of new skin cells. Look for pure aloe vera gel without added fragrances, dyes, or alcohol. If you have an aloe plant at home, the fresh gel from a leaf works well. Refrigerating the gel before applying it adds a cooling effect that can ease the sting.
Second-Degree Burns Need More Attention
Second-degree burns go deeper and produce blisters. The skin underneath looks wet, pink, or red, and these burns are significantly more painful than first-degree injuries. They typically take two to three weeks to heal.
For small second-degree burns (smaller than about three inches across, and not on the face, hands, feet, or groin), you can still manage them at home with petroleum jelly or aloe vera and daily bandage changes. Keep the area clean, and don’t pop blisters. Intact blisters act as a natural sterile bandage over the damaged skin beneath.
Deeper or larger second-degree burns sometimes require a prescription antimicrobial cream. Silver sulfadiazine has long been the standard prescription treatment for these injuries. It prevents bacterial growth in the wound bed but requires frequent dressing changes and can slow the final stages of healing slightly. It’s not appropriate for people with sulfa allergies, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or newborns. Your doctor will determine whether a prescription cream is necessary based on the burn’s size and depth.
Medical-Grade Honey: A Newer Option
Medical-grade honey, particularly Manuka honey, has gained traction as a burn treatment backed by real evidence. Its natural acidity, hydrogen peroxide content, and high sugar concentration create an environment where bacteria struggle to survive. It also actively stimulates immune cells that regulate inflammation and promote tissue repair.
In controlled studies, burns treated with Manuka honey showed better skin regrowth, stronger new tissue, and shorter overall healing times compared to standard treatments. You can find medical-grade honey dressings at most pharmacies. Regular grocery store honey is not sterile and should not be used on open wounds.
What Not to Put on a Burn
Some of the most popular home remedies are actively harmful. Butter, cooking oil, and toothpaste trap heat in the skin, making the burn deeper and more painful. The Mayo Clinic specifically warns against all three. Ice and ice-cold water can also worsen the injury by constricting blood vessels and potentially causing frostbite on already damaged tissue. Stick with cool running water, not cold.
Other things to avoid:
- Lotions and scented creams: fragrances and alcohols irritate burned skin
- Cortisone cream: MedlinePlus lists this as something to avoid on burns
- Egg whites: not sterile and offer no benefit
- Antibiotic ointments (without a doctor’s recommendation): they offer no healing advantage over petroleum jelly and carry a risk of allergic contact dermatitis
How to Apply Cream Properly
Before putting anything on the burn, cool it under gently running cool water for at least 10 minutes. This is the single most effective first-aid step. Pat the area dry with a clean cloth, then apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or aloe vera. Cover with a non-stick sterile gauze pad and secure it loosely. Tight wrapping can increase swelling and pain.
Change the dressing once or twice daily. Each time, gently wash the burn with mild soap and water, pat dry, reapply your ointment, and cover with fresh gauze. Clean hands every time you touch the wound.
Burns That Need Professional Care
Not every burn belongs at home. Second and third-degree burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over joints need medical attention regardless of size. So do burns that wrap around an arm or leg, electrical burns, chemical burns, and any burn in a child under 10 or an adult over 50 that covers more than about 10 percent of the body.
Even with a minor burn you’re treating at home, watch for signs of infection in the days that follow: increasing redness or swelling spreading beyond the burn’s edge, oozing fluid with a foul smell, fever, dizziness, or skin around the wound that feels warmer than the surrounding area. These signal that the burn has become infected and needs medical treatment beyond what any over-the-counter cream can provide.