How to Treat an Oil Burn

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1 Cooling the Burn

2 Performing First Aid

3 Administering Follow-Up Treatment

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Article Summary

Co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: July 10, 2024 Fact Checked

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It's common for oil burns to occur while you're cooking, usually when oil splatters from the pan onto your hand or arm. It can be quite painful, but if you remain calm, you can prevent the burn from causing lasting damage to your skin. In most cases, simple first aid techniques are all you need to treat an oil burn. If your burn is larger than 3 inches in diameter or covering a major body part, call your local emergency number and seek immediate medical attention.

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Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cooling the Burn

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1. 1
   Move away from the source of the burn. Stepping away from the hot oil keeps you from getting burned again. Step far enough away that oil splatter won't reach you. You may also turn off the heat source if it is safe to do so.

   • If you're cooking, cover the pan with a lid before you begin first aid treatment so you don’t cause a fire.
2. 2
   Remove any clothing near the burn. Before you cool the burn, remove any clothing or jewelry covering the burn, unless it's stuck to the burn. If the clothing is stuck, leave it. Pulling it off could cause further damage to your skin.

   • If part of a piece of clothing is stuck to the burn, you may have to cut around it. Do not remove burned clothing that is stuck to your skin.
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3. 3
   Run cool water over the burned skin for at least 5 minutes. If you have a minor, first-degree burn, you can hold the area under cool running water. Make sure the water is covering all parts of the burn. If the skin isn't cool to the touch after 5 minutes, you can continue running the water for up to 30 minutes.

   • The water should be cool, but not cold. Avoid applying ice to the burn because it can cause further tissue damage.
   • Wrap some plastic cling wrap around the burn after running water over it. This will keep the burn clean and help the area retain moisture.
   • If you can't run cool water over the burned skin due to the location of the burn, you can place a washcloth soaked in cool water over the burn, or soak the burn in a cool bath for 5 minutes.
4. 4
   Evaluate the size and appearance of the burn. If the burn is less than 3 inches in diameter, then you can probably treat it at home. For larger burns, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

   • If your burn is deep and severe, you may notice blistering, redness, and inflammation and heat around the burn. These types of burns can cause nerve damage, and should be treated by a medical professional, even if they are small.
   • Call emergency services or go to the emergency room immediately if your burn covers a large area of your body (such as your face, hands, feet, or genitals), or is deep enough to penetrate all your layers of skin or deeper tissues.
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Part 2

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Performing First Aid

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1. 1
   Take aspirin or acetaminophen for pain. If the burn is still painful after you've cooled the skin, an over-the-counter pain reliever may help. A pain reliever with an anti-inflammatory can also help reduce swelling.
2. 2
   Clean the burn with cool water. Use cool water to gently clean the skin. Pat, rather than rub, to avoid causing further damage to your skin. If your skin is blistered, take extra care not to pop any of the blisters.
3. 3
   Apply a thin layer of burn ointment. If you have a first aid kit, it may include a burn ointment. If you have an ointment or gel available, you can use it. However, it isn't necessary to use burn ointment or gel to treat an oil burn.

   • According to FAAD board certified dermatologist Mohiba Tareen, MD, you can also use “pure aloe to bring down inflammation.”
   • Avoid ointments that contain antibiotics. Antibiotics aren't necessary, and may cause an allergic reaction. Do not use creams, lotions, butter, or egg whites. They can prevent your skin from healing and may lead to infection.
4. 4
   Wrap the burn lightly with a moist dressing. If you can, use a moist dressing pad or wrap specifically designed for burns. Your dressing should be loose and secured with tape.

   • If you don't have burn dressing, you can wrap the burn area with plastic cling wrap or a clean plastic bag.
   • Never wrap a burn with something that could stick or leave fibers on the burned skin, such as a dry gauze dressing.
   • If you must put gauze on the burn, wet the dressing with sterile water or apply a layer of Vaseline to the burn before putting on the gauze.
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Part 3

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Administering Follow-Up Treatment

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1. 1
   Get a tetanus shot if necessary. Tetanus bacteria can enter your body through burned skin. If it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot, call your doctor or a nearby clinic to get a booster.

   • Minor burns usually heal with dressings and pain relief medication. However, if your skin is blistered or the burn is more severe, a tetanus shot can protect you.
2. 2
   Change the dressing daily. Every day, remove the old dressing and discard it. Wash the burn with mild soap and cool water. While you're washing the burn, inspect your skin for signs of infection. If you see oozing or pus, or if you notice increased redness or swelling, seek medical treatment right away. These could be signs of infection.

   • Apart from changes to the burn itself, a fever or swollen lymph nodes are also signs of infection. Seek medical treatment if you have a fever higher than 100.4° F (38° C).
   • It may take 1 to 3 weeks for the wound to heal. If it hasn't healed in that time, seek medical attention.
3. 3
   Avoid scratching burned skin. As a burn heals, it will likely itch. If you scratch it, you could further damage the skin as well as introduce bacteria that could lead to an infection. Aloe vera gel can help ease the itching.

   • Avoid cortisone or other anti-itch creams or lotions. They are not effective for burns and may prevent the burn from healing.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  What can I do if my burns are causing me pain?

  

  Mohiba Tareen, MD
  FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

  Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

  

  Mohiba Tareen, MD

  FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

  Expert Answer

  You can try holding a cool compress directly on your skin for immediate relief. If you still can't manage the pain, try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.

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Tips

• If you frequently use oil when cooking, keep a first aid kit in the kitchen where you can easily access it in the event of a burn.
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Warnings

• If the burn is in a sensitive area, or is larger than your hand, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Do not attempt to treat the burn with first aid on your own.
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