Burns are scary. When you or someone you love is burned, you want to take care of it as quickly as possible. Burns hurt like hell, and there doesn’t seem to be much you can do. Many people believe that butter should be applied to the burn immediately, thinking it will help the burn to heal or prevent infection.
This is a myth, maybe even an outright lie. Butter could be one of the worst things to put on most burns. Butter holds in heat, which may make the burn worse. Furthermore, the butter could cause the burn to become infected since bacteria love to grow in something they can eat. Finally, the butter may make the burn hurt more, and it will make it more difficult for a doctor to examine the burn and see how bad it really is.
Don’t use butter. Or lard, or milk or anything else you find in your fridge. There is only one case when you should even let the thought of butter cross your mind when someone is burned. If you are coated in hot tar or asphalt, you will feel better if you can get the tar off. Butter is something readily available that will work to remove burning tar. A combination of mineral oil and water works too. (You should also think about going to the doctor if you are coated in hot tar. In fact, an ambulance driver would probably be very pleased to come to your home and take you right to the hospital.) But unless you are coated in hot tar, do not put butter on your burn!
What should you do to care for a burn? There are several helpful options, none of which involve dairy products. First and foremost, seek medical attention. The correct treatment for a burn depends on how deep it is and how much area it covers. Your doctor can tell you the best thing to do. Ninety-five percent of burns are minor and do not require hospitalization or complicated care. But there are some important steps to follow for superficial burns. First, take off any hot or burned clothing right away so it doesn’t burn the skin any more. Cool the area, but not with ice. Ice is also a bad idea. It belongs in the fridge with the butter. Ice can cause further harm to the already damaged skin by freezing it. Use lukewarm or moderately cool water to cool the area. Clean a superficial burn with mild soap and tap water. Don’t use disinfectants, because they can actually inhibit healing. You don’t need to put any dressing on a superficial burn. You may need a tetanus jab if the burn goes at all deep. Topical creams are recommended to prevent infection for some burns, so consult with your doctor to find out whether any additional treatment is needed. Aloe vera may also help with healing and pain relief. And medicines to help with pain (like ibuprofen) are a fine idea, too.
No butter!