Quick action after you burn yourself decides how well your skin heals as your cells continue to burn even after you separate yourself from the heat source. The sooner you can bring down the temperature of the injured area, the faster you'll heal.
Place a minor burn in cold water
Place a minor burn in a container of cold water and keep it there for up to 2 hours, or until there is no pain when you take it out.
Use cold water only for superficial burns that cover a small area of unbroken skin.
Use ice
Place some ice into a plastic sandwich bag to cool broken skin. The bag won't stick to broken skin the way cloth might, and will keep your skin away from direct contact with the ice.
Blistered skin will typically heal within a week.
Keep it clean
Wash the affected area with a mild soap to remove bacteria.
Try aloe
Aloe is a cactus-like member of the lily family and contains a gel which has been found to promote healing of wounds, frostbite and burns.
After you have cooled the burn, cut off a bit of the aloe leaf and squeeze the gel onto the burn.
Aloe substitutes
If you don't have access to an aloe plant, use a skin softening lotion or cream that contains aloe.
Choose one that doesn't contain alcohol as alcohol tends to neutralize the aloe.
Preparation H
Preparation H is a haemorrhoid treatment which can increase burn healing time.
Preparation H contains a live yeast derivative, which has been found to speed wound healing.
Dab a little Preparation H on the burn and cover with a bandage or other sterile dressing.
Change the dressing daily and check to make sure an infection does not develop.
Try oatmeal
For sunburn pain, fill your bath with cool or tepid water and add an oatmeal bath product.
Follow the directions and see how long you need to soak in the bath.