Minor Burn Treatment in Manchester, CT

Picture of a stainless-steel pot on a hot burner.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.1 million burns require medical care each year in the United States. Burns have numerous potential causes, including sunlight, heat, and exposure to chemicals, electricity, and radiation.

If you’ve sustained a minor (first- or second-degree) burn, you can get the care you need at PhysicianOne Urgent Care in Manchester, Connecticut. We’ve been offering a wide array of urgent care services since our practice was founded in 2008—including minor burn treatment—and we take pride in delivering top-quality care with ease and speed.

Understanding Burn Levels

Medical providers classify burns into the following four categories based on how badly the skin has been damaged:

  • First-degree burns – Commonly referred to as “superficial burns,” first-degree burns affect only the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis). This type of burn typically produces pain, redness, and dryness.
  • Second-degree burns – Also known as “partial-thickness burns,” second-degree burns include the top layer of skin and part of the middle layer of skin (the dermis). These burns can produce pain, redness, swelling, and blisters.
  • Third-degree burns – Often referred to as “full-thickness burns,” third-degree burns destroy both the outer and the middle layers of skin. In some cases, they may also affect the innermost layer of skin (the hypodermis). This type of burn often causes the skin to look white, black, or charred. While less severe burns are typically quite painful, third-degree burns often lead to numbness since they can destroy the nerve endings in that area of the body.
  • Fourth-degree burns – The most severe type of burn, fourth-degree burns destroy all three layers of skin and may also extend to muscles and bones. This type of burn is generally considered to be life-threatening.

Treating Minor Burns at Home

First- and second-degree burns can often be treated at home. To treat a minor burn, you should:

  • Hold the area under cool running water or apply a cool wet compress (but be sure not to use ice)
  • Apply moisturizing lotion (preferably one containing aloe vera)
  • Loosely cover the area with a sterile gauze bandage
  • Avoid popping any blisters, since doing so can increase your risk for an infection
  • Take over-the-counter pain medication as needed

If you burned your hand, you should also try to remove any rings and bracelets before the area swells up.

When to Seek Medical Care for Burns

You should always seek emergency medical attention for third- and fourth-degree burns. While first- and second-degree burns will usually heal within one to two weeks with proper at-home care, you should still consult with a medical professional if your burn:

  • Is at least 3 inches wide
  • Is located on your face, hands, genitals, buttocks, feet, or over a major joint
  • Causes severe pain
  • Produces signs of an infection (such as fever or discharge)
  • Hasn’t improved after 48 hours

Outstanding Minor Burn Care at PhysicianOne Urgent Care

For minor burn treatment in Manchester, visit PhysicianOne Urgent Care. Our local urgent care center is open 365 days per year during extended hours, always accepts walk-ins, and offers short wait times. Once we’ve spoken with you about your injury and examined the area in question, we’ll determine how severe your burn is and administer any necessary treatments. For relatively minor burns, this may include disinfecting the wound, applying a cream or ointment, dressing the wound, administering a tetanus shot, and prescribing antibiotics or pain medication. For more severe burns, we may refer you to a specialist.

If our office is closed or you don’t feel up to leaving the house, you can also take advantage of our integrated 24/7 telemedicine service. Once you’ve connected to our secure videoconferencing system, a local provider will evaluate your burn and offer treatment recommendations, whether that involves caring for your burn at home, visiting our local urgent care center the following day, or heading to the emergency room. Our virtual visits make it easy to receive the care you need from the comfort of home at any time of day or night.


This was the fastest, easiest, and best doctor's visit. The provider was extremely kind and helpful. I explained my symptoms, the provider asked a few followup questions, and then she issued a script. I will absolutely be using this service again and would recommend to anyone.
Patient
Connecticut
  • 5.0
    
    Rating
  • 4.6
    
    Rating