When treating a burn, you first need to identify the severity of the injury. Burns range from first degree to third degree. Some characteristics of each kind follow briefly:

First degree: Not so serious because only the outer layer of the skin is injured. Usually there is redness and pain, sometimes with swelling. You can treat this kind of burn as minor unless it covers a large area. Then get some medical help.

Second degree: The first layer of skin has been burned all the way through and the second layer is injured as well. Blisters will form and red splotches will appear, accompanied by some pretty intense pain and often some swelling. You can treat a second degree burn as a minor injury at home if it is less than 2 to 3 inches square. Bigger than that and you want to get to a doctor right away.

Third degree: These burns are actually painless because you have burned all the way to the bone, often even injuring the bone. The appearance of a third degree burn may be either singed black or strangely white and dry. No hesitation. Go to a doctor immediately, no matter the size of the burn.

Treatment of minor burns (the ones you can take care of at home).
A burn is minor if it is first degree or a very small second degree. Anything more serious should be seen by a medical professional. The general guidelines for treatment include:

1.) Keep the injured area cool. Cold running water or immersion in cold water does the trick. Do it for at least five minutes. This will push the heat of the burn away and will keep swelling down. DON'T USE ICE as this can cause frostbite on the burned area and make it worse.

2.) Get a soft, sterile bandage (not just loose cotton) and wrap the burn gently. This protects the burn and reduces pain.

3.) You can take an over the counter pain medication to reduce pain. Any of the common ones will do.

4.) Don't break blisters. Infection can happen easily if blisters are broken.

For a third degree burn, get to the doctor immediately. Don't remove burnt clothes, don't immerse in cold water (causes shock sometimes) and don't wait to call 911. You can maybe get a cool, wet cloth and drape it gently on the burn. If the burn is on a large portion of the body, use a wet sheet for this.

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