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Original poster

Burnt hand hurts as soon as it's out of cold water

89 replies

miniwolf · 09/10/2021 19:30

Quite a bad burn. I did the 10 mins under cold running water and then it's been in and out of a bowl of iced water since. It's been 2 hours but still hurts so much being out of the water for more than a few minutes. Any tips or do I just need to deal with the pain? Can't keep it in water forever ☹️

OP posts:
Original poster
miniwolf · 09/10/2021 20:35

Just found a burn shield dressing in the first aid kit! Great stuff, it's very soothing. Hand looks the same as the other one so I think I'm fine. Like people said - burns just fucking hurt!

OP posts:
RosieRoww · 09/10/2021 20:36

Or try thick layer of Vaseline.

Eloisedublin123 · 09/10/2021 20:38

Don’t put anything like cling film or products on it, keep it cool, get proper medical advice

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General health
Porseb · 09/10/2021 20:39

If you have pure lavender essential oil, it really helps to take the sting out of burns.

And helps prevent blisters

Pollaidh · 09/10/2021 20:40

Do not use ice and do not use lavender oil (or anything else). They will do more damage.

The fact that it hurts is probably a good sign - means you didn't destroy the nerves. If it's red and swollen it's first degree, second degree is blistered, and third degree is like charred leather (and 3rd degree often doesn't hurt either).

We need to know what it looks like - Size, colour, blistering or charring.

  • If it is white, blistered or charred then A&E.
  • If it's large (palm sized +), then given it's on a hand which has delicate structures, again A&E.
  • Otherwise just keep cooling it under running water from time to time, if that feels like it's helping, but not ALL the time. You don't want frostbite/cold injury too.

If you're in poor health - heart weakness, immune issues etc you should get checked out tonight in case your body doesn't react in the normal way.

Put cling film on it to keep it clean. You can take over the counter painkillers to help with pain. Tomorrow I'd go to pharmacy and ask for suitable dressings for hand burns. Usually they keep it sort of damp. Hand burns are at higher risk for infection so best to keep it covered and clean.

I'm a first aider, have dealt with burns a few times, plus DS has twice given himself 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his hand which needed hospital treatment and 3x daily dressing changes.

Coffeeonmytoffee · 09/10/2021 20:40

I poured a whole bowl of boiling soup over my hand once and I had to keep it under running water for 30 mins before it stopped hurting.
I hope it improves soon.

Blizy · 09/10/2021 20:44

Last year when dd was a couple of weeks old i badly scalded my hand when a flask of boiled water spilt on it. The pain was immense much worse than my c section pain! I sat up on the sofa all night which dd in one arm whilst my hand was in a jug of water! My hand badly blistered, my friend who is a wound specialist nurse dressed it daily for me. ( I should have gone to minor injuries but I didn't want to risk it with Covid and a newborn).

Loubiemoo · 09/10/2021 20:53

FFS people! Stop suggesting putting anything on a burn. It’s downright dangerous!

Loubiemoo · 09/10/2021 20:55

@Knockoneofftheshelftowin

Aloe Vera gel is good for burns.
Dangerous advice
Hellocatshome · 09/10/2021 20:58

Room temperature water not cold water or ice.

MNHQ
MillieMumsnet · 09/10/2021 20:58

Hi there. We've had a few reports from Mumsnetters concerned about this thread. While we're daily amazed by some of the excellent advice and support offered on Mumsnet, there's really no substitute for proper medical attention – we'd never want to discourage anyone from seeing a doctor if they think they may be unwell.
Here is the link to NHS advice on Burns and Scalds www.nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds/

HoneyDewMel · 09/10/2021 21:00

If the skin starts to come off and it starts to look worse go to A&E

RandomMess · 09/10/2021 21:02

I will recommend to everyone to keep burn gel stocked in your kitchen, it's amazing stuff!

Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 21:05

Ah you’ll be alright, my son burned his hands taking a tray out of the oven with no gloves on and was covered in blisters. Cool water soaked towels wrapped around his hands, changed often and he was fine bless him.

coeliacsucks · 09/10/2021 21:10

I burnt my foot a few years ago and the pain was incredible. I 'slept' with my foot wrapped in cling film and a cold towel. It slowly swelled up over the following days but didn't blister fully for about 5-7 days after. The blister was huge I was told off by the nurse for not getting it sorted when it happened as it was the whole top of my foot ie a large area.
Ended up with daily dressing after they popped the massive blister and antibiotics.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/10/2021 21:15

I'm another one who has slept with their finger in a pint beer mug of cool water .
My finger was as wrinkled as a wizened old gnome but the pain went (finally)

Burns are nasty . As are steam burns .

NotMyCat · 09/10/2021 21:17

Ouch! I once tipped liquid boiling caramel over my hand and arm. Automatically stuck my hand under cold water which of course then set the caramel. I have a small amount of scarring but it healed really well (thanks to the burns unit!)

CaptSkippy · 09/10/2021 21:17

I am surprised about the cling film. I was always taught in first aid courses that you are supposed to keep the pores open and that a burn without damaged skin best covered with a wet cloth where the water slowly evaporates, because evaporation removes a lot of heat from its environment.

PiratePetespajamas · 09/10/2021 21:22

Not really, for this time - you might need to get it seen. But for next time: I had it from an A&E doctor that the treatment is immediate holding under RUNNING tepid/cool water for twenty minutes BY THE CLOCK - in other words don’t guess, it really has to be 20. And running water, not in a bowl - I guess the heat of your burn heats it up.

I’m sorry for your pain. I hope you find some relief, one way or another, soon.

Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 21:23

@NotMyCat that made me cringe! Ouch!

NotMyCat · 09/10/2021 21:34

@Mymapuddlington it's barely visible now! You can just see the paler white patches

Burnt hand hurts as soon as it's out of cold water
Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 21:41

Oh bless you! At least you’re not walking around with caramel stuck to you forever i suppose!

BusterGonad · 09/10/2021 21:52

I had a terrible scald from the steam of a hot kettle that wouldn't stop boiling, I stupidly turned it of myself not realising the steam was coming out of the off switch too. I slept with it in cold water than put a homemade wrapping on it (sanitary towel wrapper as no clingfilm and in a hotel in the middle of no where) it really helped to cover it.

sqirrelfriends · 09/10/2021 21:55

This is probably terrible advice but I find burns hurt for ages stop hurting after about 20 minutes out of water.

Years ago I had a really bad burn on my finger, kept it in water over the evening and on a bag of water taped to my hand over night. I kept waking up as it started hurting until I eventually just let it get some air.

Siennabear · 09/10/2021 21:56

Minor injuries straight away, my son burned his finger on the bbq. We kept his hand in a jug of cold water, very distressed. My dh insisted he was ‘fine’. I took him to minor injuries later as not getting better.the first thing the nurse said is why didn’t you bring him straight away? The sooner a burn is seen tithe better.they have dressings which stop the burn going through the layers of skin and causing damage.