The goal of burn treatment is to restore the skin to its normal appearance and function. The skin is the body's first line of defense against bacteria. When the skin is severely damaged by a burn, the line is breached and the danger of bacterial infection is great. Bacterial infection is the major cause of death from burns.

First Aid Remedy for Burn:

• Immediately immerse the burned area in cold water.
• Cover the affected area with aloe vera gel or honey (both contain a strong antibiotic and skin regenerating property). Don't break any blisters that will form, breaking it will just delay it healing and will further damage the skin.
• Go to a hospital for more severe burns.

Treatment for Serious Burns:

• Immediate treatment to avoid dehydration includes intravenous administration of fluids containing sodium salts to replace the water lost.
• Inhalation injuries require treatment with humidified oxygen, often with the assistance of a respirator, to avoid the development of pneumonia.

• To prevent infection, antibacterial agents are applied directly to the burned areas. The most common are silver sulfadiazine, and povidone iodine.

• Restoration of skin coverage in third-degree burn. Surgery is necessary to remove all dead tissues and place thin sheets of health skin from the same patient over the wound. The sheets called skin grafts are usually taken from the thigh or buttock. The donor area will heal in 10 to 14 days by epithelialization (to cover with epithelial tissue), and the grafted area should also be healed by this time. Several "crops" of grafts may have to be harvested from the same area, two weeks apart, to provide coverage for extensive burns. During this time temporary protection may be provided by allografts (skin from another person), xenografts (skin from another species of mammal, usually a pig.

• Restoration of skin coverage in third degree burn is a major problem for both physician and patient. One procedure uses culture of epithelial skin cells. Grafts of postage stamp size are obtained from an unburned area of the skin and grown in tissue cultures to produce larger sheets of cells. Such sheet can be "transplanted" back to the patient and will grow on a properly prepared wound.
• Physical therapy is also important throughout the treatment period to restore joint mobility and muscle strength.
• Adequate nutritional support is also important.