Before applying a burn treatment, the burning agent must be stopped from inflicting further damage, for example, fires are extinguished, clothing, especially any that is smoldering (such melted synthetic clothes), covered with hot tar, or soaked with chemicals must be removed instantly.

Care at home includes keeping the burn clean to avoid infection. In addition, many people are given analgesics, for at least a few days. The injury can be covered with a nonstick bandage or with sterile gauze. The gauze can be removed without sticking by first being soaked in water.

Hospitalization is sometimes necessary for optimal care of burn injuries. Burns that prevent a person from performing essential daily functions, such as walking or eating, make hospitalization necessary. Severe burns, deep second- and third-degree burns, burns occurring in the very young or the very old, and burns affecting the hands, feet, face, or genitals are usually best treated at burn centers. Burn centers are hospitals that are specially equipped and staffed to care for burn patients.

Burn Scars Classified

Superficial Minor Burns: The burn is carefully cleaned to avoid infection. If dirt is deeply embedded, a doctor can administer analgesics or numb the area by injecting a local anesthetic and then scrub the burn with a brush.

Deep Minor Burns: The burn may require examination at a hospital or doctor's office, possibly as often as daily for the first few days.

For this type of burn usually skin graft may be required. Most skin grafts replace the damaged skin. Other skin grafts help by temporarily covering and shielding the skin as it cures on its own. In a skin grafting treatment, a piece of healthy skin is taken from a healthy area of the patient's body (autograft), from another living or dead person (allograft), or from different species (xenograft)usually pigs because their skin is very similar to human skin. The skin graft is surgically sewn over the damaged area after removing any devitalized tissue and ensuring that the injury is clean. Autografts are forever. Allografts and xenografts, however, are rejected after 10 to 14 days by the patient's immune system. Artificial skin has been developed recently and can also be used to replace the damaged skin. Burned skin can be replaced anytime within several days of the burn.

Severe Burns: Severe, life-threatening burns require immediate care.

Keeping the burned area clean is crucial, because the damaged skin is easily infected.

Because grievous burns take a long time to cure, sometimes years, and can cause disfigurement, the sufferer can become depressed.