[Shaymus]

What to do when ya get a burn? There is like a giant blister there now and ive been soaking it in ice water for that last two hours and yet even 5 seconds of normal air makes it hurt again. Yes im a wuss i admit Right now ive given up on the whole trying to cool it off thing and instead have put a bandaid on really tight at the tip of my finger hoping that less blood supply means less active nerve endings. Anyone have any advice?

[wi_fighter]

Hey, burns hurt. I got one on my finger when I pulled plastic wrap off of something in the microwave and I couldn't sleep that night because it kept throbbing. You're not being a wuss.

Take some Tylenol for the pain and DON'T be tempted to pop it. If it fills up enough, it might just drain on it's own anyway, from the pressure. I usually keep my blisters covered for a day or two to avoid that "air pain" you're talking about, but you really need to keep it exposed to air and dry as much as possible.

I'd call the Ask-A-Nurse line to find out if you should put anything on it in the meantime. Some people swear by keeping them covered in oinment, others say to keep them dry. I wait until it starts to dry up and then I put something on it to keep it soft so it doesn't crack and hurt more.

[Shaymus]

You read my mind I was really getting the urge to pop it but ill hold off on that. After reading your advice i took the bandaid off and typing hurts but the keys themselves are cool enough to draw some of the pain away so its better than nothing. I need to learn to type softer tho i think lol. Thanks!

i'm sorry you are hurting......i hope you have found some relief by now....

[jmo531]

Hey Shay. Sorry your in so much pain. I frequent home remedy sites and I found this for burns and such. Hope it helps and I hope I am not too late.

Milk it. "Milk is an excellent compress for minor burns," says Stephen M. Purcell, D.O., chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and assistant clinical professor at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. "Simply soak the burned area in milk for 15 minutes or so, or apply a milk-soaked washcloth to the area." Whole milk is effective: Its fat content soothes burns and promotes healing. But make sure to rinse your skin and the washcloth in cool water afterward, because the milk will smell.

Keep it clean. A clean burn is a faster-healing burn. After 24 hours, wash the area gently with soap and water or a mild Betadine solution daily, suggests John Gillies, an emergency medical technician and program director for health services at the Colorado Outward Bound School in Denver. Keep the burn dry and clean and covered with a bandage such as a thick gauze pad between washings.

Prep it with Preparation H. No ifs, ands or buts, this hemorrhoid treatment can slice up to 3 days off the usual 7 to 15 days it takes for most burns to heal, says Jerold Z. Kaplan, M.D., medical director of Alta Bates Burn Center in Berkeley, California. Preparation H works because it contains a yeast derivative that helps speed healing. Simply dab a little on the burn and cover with a fresh sterile bandage every day.

Chill out, but not too much. You probably will instinctively reach for cold water to soothe a new burn. But don't make it too cold. Using ice water can risk making the burn even worse, because extreme cold can kill just as many skin cells as extreme heat. (That's why frostbite damage is very similar to the skin damage caused by a bad burn.) Cool, not cold, water will stop the burning from spreading through your tissues and will act as a temporary painkiller. So instead of running to the freezer, head to the kitchen faucet.