For a hot water burn, the first thing to apply is cool running water for about 10 minutes. After cooling, a thin layer of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment keeps the wound moist and protected while it heals. What you put on the burn depends on how severe it is and what stage of healing you’re in, so here’s a step-by-step breakdown.
Cool Water First, Then Assess
Run cool (not cold) water over the burned skin for about 10 minutes. This is the single most important thing you can do immediately. Cool water pulls heat out of the tissue, limits how deep the damage goes, and reduces pain. Don’t use ice or ice-cold water. Ice restricts blood flow to the area and can actually cause a cold injury on top of the burn, damaging tissue further and increasing your risk of infection.
While you’re cooling the burn, take note of what it looks like. This tells you how to treat it going forward.
- First-degree burn: Dry, red skin that’s painful, similar to a sunburn. Only the outermost layer of skin is affected.
- Second-degree burn: Red, moist skin with blisters and intense pain. The damage extends into the deeper layer of skin.
- Third-degree burn: The skin may look white, brown, black, or waxy. It can feel dry and, surprisingly, less painful because the nerves in the skin have been destroyed.
First-degree burns and small second-degree burns (smaller than about 3 inches across) can typically be treated at home. Anything larger, any third-degree burn, or burns on the face, hands, feet, groin, or over a joint needs professional medical care.
What to Put on the Burn After Cooling
Once the burn is cooled, gently pat it dry and apply a thin layer of plain petroleum jelly (like Vaseline or Aquaphor). This keeps the wound moist, which is critical for healing. Dry, exposed burns heal more slowly and scar more easily.
You can also use an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Bacitracin if you prefer, but research comparing petroleum jelly to antibiotic ointments found no significant difference in wound infection rates. Plain petroleum jelly works just as well for most minor burns, and it won’t cause the allergic reactions that some people develop from antibiotic ingredients.
Aloe vera is another option with real evidence behind it. A systematic review of four clinical trials covering 371 patients found that aloe vera shortened healing time for first- and second-degree burns by an average of nearly 9 days compared to conventional treatments. If you use aloe vera, choose pure aloe gel without added fragrances or alcohol, which can irritate the wound. You can alternate between aloe and petroleum jelly, or use whichever feels more comfortable.
What Not to Put on a Burn
Several common home remedies will make a burn worse, not better.
Butter and other greasy kitchen products (mayonnaise, cooking oil) trap heat in the wound and slow healing. They also introduce bacteria directly into damaged skin. Toothpaste contains ingredients that irritate open wounds, intensify pain, and raise the risk of both infection and scarring. It has no healing properties for burns despite the persistent myth.
Ice, as mentioned above, restricts blood flow, can cause frostbite-like damage on already injured skin, and numbs pain to the point where you may not realize the cold is causing additional harm. Stick with cool running water only.
How to Cover and Bandage the Burn
After applying petroleum jelly or aloe, cover the burn with a non-stick bandage or gauze pad. Regular adhesive bandages or standard gauze will stick to the moist wound surface and tear healing skin when you remove them. Look for bandages labeled “non-adherent” or “non-stick” at any pharmacy. Silicone-lined wound dressings are another good option that won’t bond to the burn.
Change the dressing once or twice a day. Each time, gently clean the burn with mild soap and water, pat dry, reapply a fresh layer of petroleum jelly or aloe, and cover with a new non-stick bandage. If the burn is producing a lot of fluid (common with blistered second-degree burns in the first few days), you may need to change the dressing more frequently to keep the area clean.
Leave blisters intact if possible. They’re your body’s natural sterile bandage, protecting the raw skin underneath. If a blister pops on its own, clean the area gently, apply petroleum jelly, and cover it.
Managing Pain During Healing
Hot water burns hurt, and second-degree burns are particularly intense. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen help with both pain and swelling. Keeping the burned area elevated when possible also reduces throbbing, especially in the first day or two. Reapplying cool (not cold) compresses over the bandage can provide temporary relief if pain flares up.
Signs of Infection to Watch For
Most minor burns heal within one to three weeks without complications, but infection is the main risk. Contact a doctor if you notice any of these changes:
- Pus or unusual discharge coming from the burn
- Increasing pain after the first day or two, rather than gradually improving
- Color changes around the burn, such as expanding redness or darkening
- Fever, chills, or shaking
Burn infections can progress quickly. A burn that seemed minor can become serious if bacteria get established in the damaged tissue, particularly with second-degree burns where the skin’s protective barrier is broken.
After the Burn Heals
Once new skin has fully formed and the wound is closed, the area will be sensitive and prone to scarring. Keep the healed skin moisturized and protected from sun exposure for several months. UV light darkens new scar tissue permanently.
For deeper second-degree burns that took more than two weeks to heal, silicone gel sheets can help flatten and soften scars. These are applied directly to well-healed skin and worn daily. They’re available over the counter at most pharmacies and are the most evidence-backed option for scar reduction after burns.