Scalded hand-cover or leave it (pictures)

[ibetternotgetit]

I spilled a cup of hot sugary black tea over my hand yesterday, followed all the usual advice and put it under cold running water and left it alone. It seemed to hold the heat for ages so I kept returning it to the cold running water until it calmed down.
This morning there's a few blisters appeared and it's a little bit swollen around my wrist creases.
The blisters haven't popped, do I just leave it alone? Does it need covered?

My hands are super dry and sore anyway, thanks to my work and i'd usually be slathering on hand cream but not sure that's a good idea.

Basically it hurts and I'm clearly a bit of a wimp!

I’d leave it alone and uncovered.

I wouldn't touch it and definitely no hand cream. Maybe worth seeing the pharmacist to see if you should cover with non lint dressing?

I'm stuck at work so can't see anyone, will just leave it be. I always knew I was clumsy but this is the most ridiculous accident for a while

Nhs says a and e for burns/scalds on the hands that cause blisters, certainly pharmacy for dressings, there may well be more of that burn to come out yet.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds/

Get it looked at. Usual advice is any burn bigger than a 50p needs professional advice.
It'll be more prone to infection if you leave it uncovered too.At least ask a pharmacist.

I agree that you need to get it looked at. At least see a pharmacist if you can’t get a gp appointment today. I burned the palm of my hand a few years back and the GP sent me to hospital with it.

Nhs says a and e for burns/scalds on the hands that cause blisters

A&E for that little thing?

Apply hydrogel and/or a burns dressing, lavender oil is great for healing scalds/burns too. I got a burn from hot wax in October on similar part of my hand, despite doing all this I'm left with a discoloured area of skin, hoping bio oil will help it disappear in time.

I definitely can't see anyone today stuck in work until 0100. I wear gloves for a large portion of my day so it's protected to an extent. If any blisters pop I'll dress it find a plaster and make sure it's kept properly clean until I can get other advice.

I think a&e would potentially be overkill however I've just had a reminder pop up on my phone that I've got a doctors appointment tomorrow for something unrelated, so I could potentially ask him to look at it.

you can't take two problems to a GP appointment. This is a minor injuries job as soon as you can, although you did do the right thing with the cool water which is the ONLY first aid treatment apart from a sterile burns dressing.

Do not apply any oils, creams, magic potions or any other muck - only a sterile burns dressing unless you want an infection. BTW bio oil = snake oil so the person using that has wasted their money, sorry.

Why can't she ask the GP about it? Surely if the GP sees her hand it would be remiss not to ask what happened, whatever the other issue the appointment is for.

you can't take two problems to a GP appointment

Can't you? Surely it saves everyone's time to mention it whilst there for the other reason?

I ask my go about multiple things most times I go! Usually because they've built up as I have so long between appointments. As long as it doesn't take you over your 10 minute slot then there's no problem

My dd burnt her hand this week and I saw the nurse at the GP. She said to leave the blisters and not to apply anything at all, only cold water, to the burn. She told dd the longer the blisters stay intact the quicker it will heal.

Try the pharmacist for advice when you’re not a work. Can they not let you duck out for a few minutes to get it seen to?

Don't rely on the pharmacist.

Saw mine with a burn and they sold me some cream because they didn't have any dressings.

Ended up in minor injuries and told to come back three times for special dressings and now have a permanent scar

Of course you can ask the GP. It will take her literally as second.

did a first aid course a few weeks ago
running cold water for at least 20 mins burns to hands need hospital treatment. Do Not put any cream on and dont burst the blisters you can introduce infection into the skin, ask the doctor as your there anyway

Please don't follow the advice of applying lavender essential oil to the burn. Essential oils are not safe to use undiluted on the skin. It is dangerous advice and could make it much worse if you have a reaction to the essential oil.

I'll try speaking to the Dr tomorrow, failing that I'll speak to the pharmacist after the appointment.

Typically my team is short staffed today so I can't nip out but fortunately the blisters don't feel delicate and as I wear latex gloves a lot my hand will be covered for most of my shift. Other than being pretty sore to touch and looking a bit unsightly it's not causing any issues.