

“Because the skin barrier is damaged, skin products with many preservatives or fragrances can be too irritating, sting and cause prolonged redness,” says Dr. Immediately apply a cool compress, and then follow up with a layer of a thick, fragrance-free emollient.
#Second degree burn scars how to
How to Treat Other BurnsĪs for other minor burns-and by minor, we mean first-degree burns or milder-the treatment is similar to that of a sunburn. “I typically don’t recommend patients pick or peel the skin as this can remove too many layers and cause additional injury.” That injury can cause irritation or, worse, potentially increase your risk of scarring, so it’s best to avoid it altogether. “Flaking is part of the natural healing process as your body sheds the injured skin,” says Dr. Dermstore suggests SkinCeuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30. “Many sunscreens, especially those that are chemical-based, may be too irritating to injured skin at this early stage of healing,” explains Dr. As for protecting your new sunburn from the sun, either stay in the shade or use a physical (or mineral) sunscreen. If you’ve gotten sunburned, your best bet for treating it is a cool compress paired with a thick, bland emollient, such as Aquaphor. “If redness lasts more than two weeks or any crusting or blistering develops, this may be a sign of a deeper burn that needs attention.” How to Treat Sunburn “Minor first-degree burns leave the skin pink or red but don’t cause blistering, oozing or crusting,” says Jennifer Hermann, MD, a dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at MFC Dermatology in Beverly Hills, CA. If you’re unsure which category the burn you’ve sustained falls into-don’t worry we’ve got you covered. For anything more severe, you should see a doctor for treatment (which goes for chemical burns, too, which typically require medical attention). The advice that we give here is for first-degree burns only. Note: In order to treat a burn properly, we first need to consider its severity. We’ve got plenty of tips and tricks to speed up this process, as well as advice on how to make burn scars less prominent.

While there is no known way to make burn scars fully disappear, they do gradually fade over time. Just a few moments in contact with a heat source can cause longer-term consequences, like scarring and, of course, general discomfort. Whether you forgot to re-up your SPF-and earned yourself a nasty sunburn-or had a very painful run-in with a heated curling iron, you’ve probably experienced a burn at some point in your life.
