How to Treat Burns on Fingers

How to Treat Burns on Fingers
Burns on fingers may be due to coming in contact with hot furnace and flame. Other type of burns on fingers may include chemical burns, electrical burns and sunburn. First-degree burn may involve the first layer of the skin. This may result to soreness and redness of the skin. Second-degree burn may affect the skin deeper. This may lead to some blisters and the skin may appear shiny, wet and red. The third-degree burns may reach to the bones and requires immediate medical attention.

Treatment of Burns on Fingers

• Removed the cause of heat: It is the initial reaction of the body to remove the finger on the source of the heat. Your reflex will instruct you to pull away immediately on anything that is hot. However, if the chemical is the reason of your burn, it is important that the chemical should be removed immediately.


• Rinse: Rinse the affected finger for five minutes. If there is no sign of skin break, it is suggested that you soak your finger in a cool bath. Cool running water is better than warm water or ice water since it can worsen your burn. Afterwards, just air-dry the water in your finger.


• Determine the degree of the burns: It is now time to determine the degree of your burns. If the burn is less than three-inch diameter, it may be treated at home. However, if the pain is bigger than that, it is best that you visit your health care provider.


• Apply sulfadiazine: if your burns are small, you may treat it at home with sulfadiazine cream to protect the burns from infection. If there are blisters in your fingers, avoid scrapping it since may lead to further infection.


• Cover with sterile gauze: To protect your burns on fingers, you may cover it with sterile gauze. Secure the sterile gauze using a medical tape, however, avoids the tape from touching the blister and the burns. Change the sterile gauze every day. If the burns do not change or if you observe some infection, you have to consult your health care provider as soon as possible.