A scald burn (also called a thermal burn) is red, painful skin that happens when the skin has contact with hot liquid, hot food, or steam. The redness might not be as easy to see on kids with darker skin. A scald burn may swell or cause the skin to blister. With proper care, most scald burns heal well.
To help your child feel more comfortable while their burn heals:
- Give your child all medicines prescribed by the health care provider as directed.
- Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand) as needed for pain, if your health care provider says it's OK. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old. Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often.
- Apply aloe vera gel (available at drugstores without a prescription) and any other lotions or creams as recommended by your health care provider.
- Do not peel any loose skin or break or pop blisters.
- Give your child plenty of liquids to drink.
- If your child needs to go outside, cover the burn to protect it from the sun.
Caring for the burn:
- Wash the burn every day. Use a mild soap and lukewarm water and gently pat dry with clean gauze or a towel.
- If your health care provider put a dressing (covering) on the burn:
- Change the dressing as recommended. It can help to give pain medicine 30 minutes beforehand.
- Use any prescribed ointments as directed.
Talk to your health care provider about:
- When your child should return to school and other activities, and any activities to avoid
- Whether your child needs any follow-up visits
Your child has severe pain.
What happens when skin gets scalded? Skin has three layers: the epidermis (top layer), dermis (middle layer), and subcutaneous tissue (bottom layer). Scald burns can be:
- Superficial (also called first-degree): These affect only the outer layer and cause redness, pain, and minor swelling. The skin will be dry with no blisters. It will take 3 to 6 days to heal, and skin may peel.
- Partial-thickness (also called second-degree): These affect both the top and middle layers and cause redness, pain, swelling, and blisters, and the skin may look wet. Healing time may vary, but usually takes up to 3 weeks or more. If the burn was deep enough, there might be a scar.
- Full-thickness (also called third-degree or fourth-degree): These affect all layers of the skin, and sometimes underlying tissues. The burned area will look dry and can appear waxy white, leathery, brown, or charred. There may be little or no pain due to nerve damage. Healing time can vary and may involve surgery.
How will the skin feel and look while the burn is healing? Burned skin might itch as it heals. It can be a different color than the skin around it, and there might be a scar if the burn was deep. The skin can be more sensitive to the sun and sunburn more easily, so it's important to protect it with clothing or sunscreen when your child goes outside.
What can help prevent scald burns?
- Never hold a baby or small child while you're cooking or while drinking hot beverages.
- Keep hot drinks and foods out of reach.
- Test all heated drinks and foods before serving them.
- Turn pot handles away from the stove's edge while cooking.
- Don't allow children to cook unsupervised, even when using the microwave.
- Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F (49°C), use the "low-medium" setting, or install an anti-scald device.
- Always test bath water with your wrist or elbow before putting your child in it.
- Check before young children get in the bath or shower to make sure they don't make the water too hot.
