I've often heard people, including my own mother, tell me that treating a burn with ice is beneficial: presumably, to the pain level, and swelling. Is that so? Does it really make a difference?
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2Can you please point to a source that claims that you should cool a burn with ice? – May 24 '13 at 16:19
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From:- Burns FAQ **Don't Use Ice**It has lateral heat stored in it and may also cause a Cold Burn! – Feb 09 '14 at 14:48
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@ShubhBhatia Can you provide a link for the "Burns FAQ" you cited? Also, what is "lateral heat" and a "cold burn"? – Reinstate Monica -- notmaynard May 05 '14 at 22:47
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From Mayo Clinic's burn first aid:
Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 or 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cool water or cool it with cold compresses. Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin. Don't put ice on the burn.
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Caution
Don't use ice. Putting ice directly on a burn can cause a person's body to become too cold and cause further damage to the wound.
From WebMD:
Do not use ice.
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Do not put ice or butter on the burned area.
From Ambulatory Management of Burns in American Family Physician:
Ice application should be avoided.
