I have an aloe plant, and if I burn myself (which I do regularly because I'm clumsy and tend to hurry and not pay attention), I break off a leaf and spread the "goo" on the burn. It takes the heat out instantly, it's so weird, and if it starts to burn again, I re-apply.

It works for me, and it works wonders for a sunburn too.

I never puncture the blister because I'll invariably tear the top off doing something or another, it's part of that "I'm always in a hurry" personality I have.

Be careful!

Annie

I do the same as annie, except for cooling the burn 1st w/ cold water &/or something cold from the fridge/freezer.

In my experience, the only thing worse than an oil burn is a sugar burn. Sugar adheres. OUCH! I feel for you! It sounds about bad enough to get treated, but, of course, these things only happen on weekends.

For lesser burns, like touching a hot pot or rack, I grab a plastic ice cube from the freezer. That's the kind filled with gel that do not actually chill drinks. :) I have some fishes. They're not cold enough to cause frostbite, but are cold enough to do the trick, and they don't drip. If there's any sting left and the skin isn't broken I'll use a natural remedy like wound honey. I used to use aloe, but my skin doesn't like it (it's weird that way--doesn't like things that are great for most people).

When I was much younger, I touched a soldering iron that I thought was cool, but was in fact unplugged because it had overheated--it must have been at least 500 degrees still, probably more. I was nowhere near any remedies, and hugely annoyed because I really didn't have time to treat a burn or recover from one, so I kept working and met my deadline. And in one of those crazy mind over matter ways, there was no pain, mark or blister the next day. I've tried to do it on purpose, and sometimes think I have partial luck at it, but I can't summon that totally committed feeling of *I don't have time for this, go away* that created the magic.

I cannot therefore recommend magical brain powers as a proven remedy, but it couldn't hurt to try while you're cooling the burn. :)

I run it under the cold tap until the hut stops and then put up with it. When you get it near heat again it will sting.
If I do get a blister that's in a place where it might get rubbed off (causing more issues) then I take a sterilised needle and holding it sideways slide it under one edge, puncturing a hole. Then I gently press out the serum inside, pressing the top blister skin down so it sticks to and covers the damaged skin underneath. Put on a bandaid and Bob's your uncle.

I have no advice except, don't puncture the blister. According to the Mayo Clinic, it makes the burn more susceptible to infection.

For minor burns, Mayo Clinic says cool the burn (with cool water, not ice), loosely bandange with lint free gauze, and take an over the counter pain reliever.

Mayo also suggests if you have a 2nd degree burn on a hand, that you seek medical attention. Many drugstores now have minor medical clinics on premises. Surely, there will be a Walgreens or CVS near where you will be tomorrow.

You have my total sympathy. I'm a klutz and have burned myself more times than I care to remember.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mayo Clinic First Aid for Burns

Funny, I am suffering with a small burn on my forearm right now. Did it tonight on the edge of a roaster. First one I have had in ages.

I just run it under cold water until it quits stinging. This one isn't blistering, so I'll leave it at that. If does blister, after I cool it off, I put some polysporin on it.

Darlene

I'm like Annie and multi-task and do get burns regularly.
(quarterly, lol)... not all the time.
Leave the blister. I use cool water, then ice. I know to not use ice but it numbs the pain. I then just wrap it with what fits the size and let it heal. I have a strange allergy reaction to aloe after buying a plant. My sister has the same reaction.
(very weird). I have no other obvious allergies.

Some of the new pot holders out now are not so great. I like the standard cotton thick loop ones that are in groceries. All the new neoprene, rubber tipped and palmed, are a waste of money and i am continually tempted...and buy them. Back to thick cotton terry cloth now.

The new silicone potholders and gloves are great. They work even when wet and you can quickly wipe them clean.

Coconut oil. It will soothe the pain and speed the healing. At night, slather the burn with oil, cover with a light gauze, and put a (cotton) sock on your hand.

If possible, I use rubbing alcohol. Cools fast, but with the smell you can't use it if you're still working with food; e.g., you're still in the middle of cooking.

Afterwards, I'll use either arnica gel or Vit E oil. The gel absorbs into the skin and doesn't need a bandage, but washes off with water. Vit E oil requires a bandage or covering of some sort.

This will sound absurd and counterintuitive, but I guarantee it's amazing. I first heard about this on the People's Pharmacy, and it was confirmed by a caller who said that army field medics use it --Soy Sauce.

I tried it the first time when I had a burn that instantly raised a blister. I soaked it in soy sauce about 30 seconds, then put a band aid on, and went out to work in the garden. When I took my garden gloves off several hours later and removed the band aid, there was nothing there--nothing at all. No sign of a blister, no redness, nothing.

I've since used soy sauce several times, and it's always the same--in a few hours no sign that there was any burn at all.

I too use aloe. it's amazing! I do puncture a blister because it feels better and gets things moving along, but then I clean with hydrogen peroxide, add Neosporin, and then keep a Nexcare adhesive bandage on it. Those suckers are awesome! They stay adhered so well, nothing gets in. It comes off when I want it off, and not before. They're made out of the same stuff that keeps IVs inserted, so they're soft, flexible and hang on.

I know, I sound like a commercial, but it's really important to keep a blister covered. Without a glove. You go Michael! I hope you bedazzle it just for fun john!

Here is a link that might be useful: nexcare

Egg White! Yes it works. I had a hole in my oven mitt and had it on the wrong hand. 375ðF oven rack got my thumb. We were baking cookies and I had a dish of egg white handy. I had read about it. It works! An hour later you couldn't even tell I had done it. 32 years ago, I did the same thing, but with a potholder. That one ended up needing medical attention. Wish I had known about egg white then.

If yours is blistered, John, please get it checked.

Burn myself in the kitchen, not me...well not today :).

I do like Annie (cold, aloe plant...repeat for the next clumsy burn).

Robin, I've been using those band aids for a long time. They are great for the grandkids too.

Lacey, I'm eager, well not really eager, to try the soy sauce.

It's wet tea leaves or tea bags for me. I think it is the tannic acid that takes the pain away, prevents blistering, keeps the skin soft and supple, and minimizes scarring. I've used it for minor kitchen burns as well as when I had a book of matches ignite and stick to my thumb (don't ask...I quit smoking on the spot.) I discovered this pearl when reading "Shogun" many years ago.

For me it depends on the burn. Usually nothing, maybe ice, or a leaf from my aloe plant or neosporin. If its serious I will go to the doctors. Let him decide the treatment. I try to avoid burning myself but it happens.
Mary

Lots of new things to try here. I will definitely try the soy sauce trick! Meanwhile there's an excellent burn cream that is available by prescription. After the burn has cooled, apply Silvadene cream/ointment. They use it for skin tears and it has amazing healing properties.
We travel with those new blister bandages from 3M and they are great for blisters on my feet. They also help heal the blister and work remarkably well. I'd buy some of those and use it on your hand. Neosporin won't do much for a big blister. Although once it pops it will fight infection.

If vinegar will cool of a sunburn, then why not soy sauce on a burn? Definitely going to try that the next time I burn myself. Thanks Lacey.

I do just as you did, cool water, Neosporin. They offer one that has pain relief, numbing in it, if that's not the product that's here I'll take Tylenol if it really hurts. And while the burn never seems to be in a place that's convenient to cover, I do try to do that and do not pierce the blister, at least not in the first few days.

I hate those kitchen cuts and burns ,and about the time I think I've learned my lesson, that avoiding them is just built in and I'm at my most efficient - I do it again. Usually right before guests are arriving and the last thing I have time for is first aid.

Did you know vinegar (I heard and couldn't find a lifeguard with a bottle, so I tried the pickle juice. It worked!) will also sooth a sting from a jellyfish? True. So I guess you could also use soy sauce for jellyfish stings. Filing that one away!

Soy sauce has salt in it. I don't know if that would be good or not.

I used to use Aloe straight from the plant. The egg white works better.

I do use vinegar for sunburn. Or tea

Aloe is my friend and I have a small plant right next to my kitchen window. Even when I picked up a cookie sheet that had been sitting on a burner that was on, I snapped off a little of the aloe plant, treated the burn and never had even a blister. Why was I so stupid with the cookie sheet and burner? That was part of my being old, but it won't happen again.

I got burned by a laser printer at work trying to remove a paper jam, and I was sent to a workman's comp doctor who prescribed a cream that I think is Silvadene. He gave me a 2 oz jar of it, and I have kept it in the fridge for kitchen burns. It works better than anything else I've tried, and if I put some of it on the burn right after it happens, it's as if I never got burned. I have not tried egg white, but will keep that in mind, once I run out of Silvadene. I have quite a few aloe plants in my front and back yards (several are blooming now), but I have used those mainly for sunburn. Now I use sufficient sun screen that I do not get sunburn and stay out of the sun in general.

If you get a second degree burn, it is good to go to your emergency clinic and get treatment from a doctor. They can give you something stronger than the home remedies, but the home remedies are essential as a first aid treatment, before you can get to the doctor. Once you have a supply of burn cream from a doctor, you can store it in the fridge for quite some time.

Lars

Aloe blooming in front yard last week-end, in the rain:

Cool plants, Lars!

First you cool the burn so that it does not continue to destroy your tissue. Use an ice bag covered with a thin, clean fabric. Do not put Neosporin directly on the burn. Place it on a non-stick Adaptic type pad, then place this over the injured skin. Cover with clean dry gauze. Keep the burned skin clean and dry and do not open the blister. The blister is there to protect your skin.

Lars, when I was in LA a week or so ago, I visited the Huntington Botanical Gardens' Desert garden. Amazing place! Looked just like your garden, just bigger.

dcarch

Lars, your garden looks beautiful. I seem to have killed my aloe plant in the moving process, so I'll have to replace it. Here they are strictly house plants, of course.

I once got a sunburn that blistered and had always been told to see a doctor for a 2nd degree burn. My old doctor, who seldom minced words, told me to take some Tylenol, put cold compresses on it and wait to feel better. He added that there was "no cure for doing dumb things" and mentioned sunscreen, LOL.

Annie

Ice immediately. Then 1% silver sulfadiazine. No popping of blisters.

Lots of interesting tips here. Thanks!

Burn is doing nicely. Blister popped itself after a day, I've kept a bandage over it, no pain or signs of infection, I think it'll be a non issue in a couple more days. The wet dressing I used (sort of a wet gel pad) was helpful.

So glad to hear the burn is healing well. Oddly, I, too, burned myself yesterday while preparing dinner and in a rush, before I read your post. I used ice and that cream mentioned above. Today no blisters or soreness, although last night I was sure that this would be a bad one, covering forefinger, thumb and areas in between. I have read secondhand studies saying the cream doesn't work, but I ignore them in the face of my (unfortunately) fairly frequent burn experience. Carpal tunnel and arthritis attacks strike me suddenly and affect my grip and cooking coordination. My (now retired) family practice doc gave me an Rx years ago and said he prescribed this for chefs in his practice, and just to keep it around the house. It will be interesting to see if my new doc will prescribe it when I need more, which I am sure that I will one day.

I agree get it into cool water but then I use something called Burn Gel. One of the doctors I worked with from the burn unit suggested it.