Infected Burn, with Cream or Ointment and Dressing

Your burn has become infected. This is usually because skin germs (bacteria) have gotten into the burn area.

Home care

Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home:

• Keep wound clean and dry
• Change your dressing once a day, unless you were told otherwise. If the bandage sticks, soak it off in warm water. A bandage left in place too long can make the infection worse.
• Wash the area with soap and water to remove all cream, ointment, ooze, or scabs. You may do this in a sink, under a tub faucet, or in the shower. Rinse off the soap and pat dry with a clean towel. Look for signs of infection.
• Apply antibiotic cream or ointment according to your healthcare provider's instructions. This will prevent infection and keep the bandage from sticking.
• Cover the burn with nonstick gauze. Then wrap it with the bandage material.
• If the bandage becomes wet or soiled, change it.
• You may use over-the-counter medicine to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. Do not give ibuprofen to children younger than 6 months of age or aspirin to children younger than 2 years of age.
• If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, talk with your provider before taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Also talk with your provider if you have had a stomach ulcer or  gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. The infection should not get worse once you start treatment. Check the burn in 2 days for the signs of worsening infection listed below.

Infected Burn, with Cream or Ointment and Dressing

Your burn has become infected. This is usually because skin germs (bacteria) have gotten into the burn area.

Home care

Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home:

• Keep wound clean and dry
• Change your dressing once a day, unless you were told otherwise. If the bandage sticks, soak it off in warm water. A bandage left in place too long can make the infection worse.
• Wash the area with soap and water to remove all cream, ointment, ooze, or scabs. You may do this in a sink, under a tub faucet, or in the shower. Rinse off the soap and pat dry with a clean towel. Look for signs of infection.
• Apply antibiotic cream or ointment according to your healthcare provider's instructions. This will prevent infection and keep the bandage from sticking.
• Cover the burn with nonstick gauze. Then wrap it with the bandage material.
• If the bandage becomes wet or soiled, change it.
• You may use over-the-counter medicine to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. Do not give ibuprofen to children younger than 6 months of age or aspirin to children younger than 2 years of age.
• If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, talk with your provider before taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Also talk with your provider if you have had a stomach ulcer or  gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. The infection should not get worse once you start treatment. Check the burn in 2 days for the signs of worsening infection listed below.

Infected Burn, with Cream or Ointment and Dressing

Your burn has become infected. This is usually because skin germs (bacteria) have gotten into the burn area.

Home care

Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home:

• Keep wound clean and dry
• Change your dressing once a day, unless you were told otherwise. If the bandage sticks, soak it off in warm water. A bandage left in place too long can make the infection worse.
• Wash the area with soap and water to remove all cream, ointment, ooze, or scabs. You may do this in a sink, under a tub faucet, or in the shower. Rinse off the soap and pat dry with a clean towel. Look for signs of infection.
• Apply antibiotic cream or ointment according to your healthcare provider's instructions. This will prevent infection and keep the bandage from sticking.
• Cover the burn with nonstick gauze. Then wrap it with the bandage material.
• If the bandage becomes wet or soiled, change it.
• You may use over-the-counter medicine to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. Do not give ibuprofen to children younger than 6 months of age or aspirin to children younger than 2 years of age.
• If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, talk with your provider before taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Also talk with your provider if you have had a stomach ulcer or  gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. The infection should not get worse once you start treatment. Check the burn in 2 days for the signs of worsening infection listed below.