For a minor burn, the best things to apply are plain petroleum jelly or aloe vera gel, covered with a non-stick bandage. But what you do in the first few minutes matters just as much as what you put on afterward. Cool running water is your most important first step, followed by a simple moisture barrier to protect the skin while it heals.
Most small burns, including first-degree burns and minor second-degree burns without large blisters, can be safely treated at home with basic first aid. Deeper burns, large burns, or burns on the face, hands, feet, or genitals need professional care.
Cool the Burn With Running Water First
Before you put anything on a burn, hold it under cool (not cold) running water. This is the single most effective first aid step, recommended by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation as a strong guideline for both adults and children. The water draws heat out of the tissue, which limits how deep the damage goes and reduces pain almost immediately.
There’s no universally agreed-upon exact duration, but most guidelines suggest 10 to 20 minutes under the tap. In studies reviewed by ILCOR, cooling times ranged from 2 minutes to over an hour, with nearly half of patients cooled for 20 minutes or more. The key is to start as soon as possible. Running water works better than soaking in a bowl because it continuously carries heat away from the skin.
One important note: don’t use ice or ice-cold water. Cold temperatures can constrict blood vessels and actually worsen the injury. Cool tap water is all you need.
What to Apply After Cooling
Once the burn is cooled, gently pat it dry and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (like Vaseline or Aquaphor). This keeps the wound moist, which is critical for healing. Dry, exposed burns form thicker scabs, heal more slowly, and scar more easily.
You can also use an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Bacitracin if you have it on hand. However, a study comparing plain petroleum jelly to antibiotic ointments found no significant difference in wound infection rates. Petroleum jelly works just as well for most minor burns, and it carries no risk of an allergic reaction to antibiotic ingredients. If you know you’re not allergic, either option is fine.
Reapply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or ointment each time you change the bandage, typically once or twice a day.
Aloe Vera for Burn Healing
Aloe vera is one of the few home remedies with real clinical evidence behind it. A systematic review of four studies involving 371 patients found that aloe vera shortened healing time by an average of nearly 9 days compared to conventional treatments for first- and second-degree burns. It also increased the overall rate of successful healing.
Use pure aloe vera gel, either from the plant itself or a store-bought product without added fragrances, alcohol, or dyes. Apply a generous layer directly to the burn after cooling. You can alternate between aloe vera and petroleum jelly, or use whichever feels more soothing. Aloe provides a cooling sensation that many people find helps with pain and discomfort in the first few days.
How to Cover and Bandage a Burn
After applying petroleum jelly or aloe vera, cover the burn with a non-stick bandage. This is important because regular gauze or adhesive bandages can stick to the raw skin surface, tearing new tissue when you remove them and causing more pain. Look for bandages specifically labeled “non-stick” or “non-adherent” at any pharmacy.
Hydrogel dressings are another good option if you can find them. They contain water in the dressing material, which keeps the wound moist and cool while being completely non-adherent. They allow for painless dressing changes and reduce the risk of further tissue damage during removal. Foam dressings are a third option, particularly useful if the burn is producing fluid, since they absorb excess moisture without drying out the wound bed.
Secure the bandage loosely with medical tape around the edges, not over the burn itself. Change it once or twice a day, or whenever it gets wet or dirty. Each time, gently clean the area with mild soap and water, pat dry, reapply your ointment or gel, and cover with a fresh bandage.
Managing Pain at Home
Minor burns can throb for hours or even a few days. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help with both pain and swelling. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is an alternative if you can’t take ibuprofen. Follow the dosage instructions on the package.
Keeping the burn elevated above heart level when possible, especially in the first 24 to 48 hours, also helps reduce swelling and the pulsing pain that comes with it. A cool, damp cloth draped over the bandage can provide temporary relief if the burn is still stinging between dressing changes.
What Not to Put on a Burn
Butter, cooking oil, and toothpaste are the most common home remedies people reach for, and all three make burns worse. According to the Mayo Clinic, these substances trap heat in the skin, cause irritation, and deepen the injury. Butter and oil create a seal that holds in the thermal energy you’re trying to remove. Toothpaste contains chemicals like menthol and baking soda that irritate raw tissue and can increase the risk of infection.
Other things to avoid:
- Ice or ice water. Extreme cold damages already-injured cells and can restrict blood flow to the area.
- Egg whites. Raw eggs carry bacteria and offer no healing benefit.
- Essential oils. Undiluted essential oils like lavender or tea tree can cause chemical irritation on broken skin.
- Cotton balls or fluffy gauze. Fibers stick to the wound and are painful to remove.
Burns That Need More Than Home Care
Not every burn belongs in the “treat it at home” category. You should seek medical attention if the burn is larger than about 3 inches across, if it wraps around a finger or limb, or if the skin looks white, brown, or leathery (signs of a deeper, third-degree burn). Burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over major joints also need professional evaluation because of the risk of scarring that limits movement or function.
Any burn caused by electricity, chemicals, or inhaling hot air or steam requires emergency care regardless of how it looks on the surface, since the damage often extends deeper than the visible injury.
For burns you are treating at home, watch for signs of infection in the days that follow: increasing redness spreading beyond the burn’s edge, swelling that gets worse instead of better, green or foul-smelling discharge, fever, or pain that intensifies after the first 48 hours rather than gradually improving. These signs mean the burn needs medical attention even if it initially seemed minor.