Injury aftercare

Blister
Change the dressing at least daily or whenever it becomes wet or dirty. Care should be taken to keep the feet as clean as possible at all times. Use soap and water for cleansing. If you're allergic to the adhesive used in most bandages, switch to adhesive-free dressings or sterile gauze and paper tape. These supplies are generally available at pharmacies.

Seek medical attention if any signs of infection develop:
 * Increased redness, pain, swelling or warmth.
 * Red streaking of the surrounding skin.
 * Pus draining from area (It's not pus if it has been less than a day.)
 * Tender lumps or swelling in your armpit, groin, or neck.
 * Foul odor from the area.
 * Generalized chills or fever over 99.6 degrees F.
 * Not healing well within 1 to 2 weeks.

A tetanus booster shot is recommended for anyone who has gotten dirt in a break in their skin (like a broken blister) and has not had a tetanus shot in the last 8-10 years. See your healthcare worker.

Follow-up with regular healthcare worker.

Burn
Keep the burn area clean and wrapped in sterile non-adherent dressing or one of the so-called "smart" dressings such as Spenco 2nd Skin or Spyroflex wound dressings. Use as directed. Change dressing daily.

Before daily dressing change, soak area in a tub or use lukewarm plain water compresses once a day. You may add 2 tablespoons of powdered detergent to the tub to help soak off crusting areas.

Do not break blisters. Fluid-filled blisters protect against infection. If blisters break, wash the area with mild soap and water, then apply an antibiotic ointment.

Prop burned area higher than the rest of the body, if possible.

A tetanus booster shot is recommended for anyone with a blistering burn who has not had a tetanus shot in the last 8-10 years. See your healthcare worker.

Burns may heal with pigment changes, meaning the healed area may be a different color than the surrounding skin. Avoid re-injuring or tanning if the burns are less than a year old-- doing so may cause more extensive pigmentation changes.

Anesthetic creams or sprays are not recommended as they can provoke allergic reactions and may delay healing.