Burn Care: Vital parenting information from Eyewitness News

Whether near a fireplace or in the sun too long... a child's tender skin can be burned with serious consequences. There are three types of burns. A first degree burn is like a sunburn, where the outer layer of skin is injured. A second degree burn is more severe, this is where you would see blisters after a burn. And the deepest, most serious, is the third degree burn.

Dr. Joe Matusic, MD Pediatrician
I always tell parents of children with a second degree burn, if it's bigger than a peanut or size of a dime, I really need to see it. All burns look worse 24 hours later. So, you may have a curling iron burn at night and the next morning say 'Oh, my, look how bad this is'. So burns... we always should really see those if it's anything bigger than a dime.

For less serious burns, Dr. Matusic recommends "Neosporin" with the added numbing agent, for pain relief. And although he says burns generally don't get infected, they still can. So, gently wash the area, pat it dry and keep it covered with gauze. And have you ever heard of the old wives tale of putting butter on a burn?

Dr. Joe Matusic, MD
Butter could soothe it, but it could contain bacteria in it and you could then end up with that would becoming infected.

Other pain relief for a burn could be as close as your medicine cabinet.

Dr. Joe Matusic, MD
Ibuprofen is better than acetaminophen for wound care. There's a lot of inflammation that goes on and Motrin and Aleve are anti-inflammatory medicines. Whereas Tylenol has no anti-inflammatory property.

Less severe burns can heal in one to three weeks. Depending on your child's case, let your doctor give you dosage information about using Tylenol and Motrin together.

Also Dr. Matusic says if you're concerned about how your child's skin will look after recovering from a burn... first and second degree burns don't scar the skin. A third degree burn will leave a scar. But expect the second degree burn to change the skin for some length of time, possibly a year.