Medical expert of the article
New publications
What should I do for a chemical burn?
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
When certain chemicals (alkali, acid, etc.) come into contact with the skin or mucous membrane, a burn occurs, sometimes quite severe; in such situations, not every person knows what to do in case of a chemical burn.
A chemical burn occurs as a result of careless handling of chemicals such as alkali, acid, etc., which, when they come into contact with the skin, cause severe burns.
First of all, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the damaged area, and also remove (tear) clothes that have chemical residues on them. The damaged area should be washed for about twenty minutes (in some cases longer) under running water.
Quicklime should not be washed off with water, as this will cause even more harm (water and lime react, resulting in the release of heat). It is better to use a dry napkin to remove lime from the skin, only after that you can rinse the wound under water or treat it with vegetable oil.
Sulfuric acid is first removed with a dry cloth, and only then the burned area is washed with water.
After the skin has been cleared of any remaining chemical, the wound is covered with a dry, clean bandage.
It is not recommended to use any preparations to treat the wound before consulting a doctor, as the reaction may be quite strong. In case of an acid burn, it is recommended to treat the wound with a soda solution (2%) or soap, if the burn is caused by an alkali, it is recommended to slightly acidify the water for washing the wound with acid, just a few drops (boric, citric).
In case of chemical burns of the mucous membranes (esophagus, stomach), it is necessary to wash the internal organs with special substances that neutralize the effect of the chemical or with water.
What to do if you get a burn after peeling?
During peeling, the skin is exposed to various medical products, which can lead to a small burn, such a skin reaction is normal. Also, the cause of the burn can be the incorrect use of peeling products, unprofessionalism of the cosmetologist.
Peeling is a rather traumatic procedure for the skin, since chemicals are used for cleansing, which cause minor burns. Depending on the type of peeling used, the ability of substances to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, the effect of the drug can last from several days to several weeks - after application, the solution begins to dissolve the upper layers of skin, in place of which new skin then appears.
The degree of the burn depends on the depth of penetration of the substances, the number of layers of skin through which the preparation can penetrate, the time during which the peeling works. The deeper the peeling works, the stronger the burn will be, in addition, the pain and healing time of the burn will last longer. If the burn does not go away after peeling, you need to contact a specialist.
Peeling has become a popular procedure offered in almost all beauty salons, so it is necessary to know what to do in case of a burn, if after visiting a cosmetologist your face becomes red and sore.
Usually, phenol is used for deep skin cleansing, which leaves quite severe burns on the skin. Peeling with phenol is contraindicated for people with dark skin, since the substance has a bleaching effect.
It takes about two weeks for the skin to recover after a deep peeling, and the skin will remain reddish for a long time (several weeks or months). Usually, when burns appear, Panthenol, Solcocheril, and chlorhexidine rinsing are recommended. If the burn does not go away longer than it should, you should consult a dermatologist. Self-treatment of burns after cosmetic procedures can lead to even more undesirable consequences.
Treatment of cosmetic burns may require analgesics, antibacterial and antiviral agents to help prevent infection after peeling.
What to do in case of a potassium permanganate burn?
Potassium permanganate is often used as a simple and convenient antiseptic. A solution of potassium permanganate powder has good anti-inflammatory properties, due to which it can be used for some injuries, skin diseases, as well as for diseases of internal organs. People consider potassium permanganate a remedy for many ills, but if used incorrectly, a burn may occur, in this case, the main thing is to know what to do with a burn and act as quickly as possible. In case of a potassium permanganate burn, you must immediately consult a doctor, before this, you must provide first aid - rinse the burned area well with water, treat with Panthenol and cover the burn with a dry bandage.
It is also possible to inadvertently swallow a solution of potassium permanganate (especially in children). In this case, potassium permanganate can cause a burn of the mucous membrane of the throat, esophagus, stomach, and also cause serious food poisoning. If potassium permanganate is swallowed (especially if pain, vomiting, etc. occurs), it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor; before the ambulance arrives, it is recommended to drink a 10% solution of sodium thiosulfate.
What to do if you get a mustard plaster burn?
Mustard plasters have been used for many years to treat colds, bronchitis, etc. The warming effect that mustard plasters have helps improve blood circulation, metabolism, and also helps remove toxins.
But mustard plasters must be used correctly, otherwise the skin may be burned.
Not many people know what to do with a mustard plaster burn. First of all, as with other types of burns, you need to thoroughly wash the affected area under running water, carefully remove any remaining moisture from the affected area with a paper napkin and apply an antiseptic, cover with a dry, loose bandage on top.
If an allergy occurs (nausea, dizziness), it is necessary to take antihistamines.
To improve healing, you can also use regenerating drugs.
You can often hear advice that burns after mustard plasters should be lubricated with oil or any fat, which will help relieve pain and speed up the healing process. However, fat (oil) forms a film on the burn site, which prevents the cooling of tissues at the site of injury, in addition, the likelihood of heat stroke increases.
What to do if you get an acid burn?
There are two types of acid: organic (citric, acetic, malic) and inorganic (sulfuric, hydrochloric). Any acid has an irritating effect on the human body to a greater or lesser extent, so it is important to know what to do with acid burns to avoid serious consequences. If acid gets on your clothes, you need to quickly get rid of it, if necessary, you can tear or cut the clothes. If the fabric is stuck to the skin, you cannot tear it off by force.
In case of burns, it is important to wash off the remains of the substance from the burned area of skin with cool water as soon as possible. It is recommended to wash for at least 15 minutes to completely cleanse the skin, after which you can wash the affected areas with a soap or soda solution to neutralize the action of the acid. When treating the wound, do not touch the affected areas with your hands to prevent infection or chemical residue from getting into the wound. It is recommended to use special medical gloves when treating the wound.
After the affected area has been thoroughly washed, it should be thoroughly blotted with a dry paper towel, a loose bandage should be applied and an ambulance should be called.
In case of shock (paleness, rapid breathing, weak pulse), you can take a sedative, for example, tincture of valerian or motherwort.
What to do if you get a hydrogen peroxide burn?
Hydrogen peroxide is used externally mainly to disinfect wounds.
Chemical burns from hydrogen peroxide may occur due to improper use of the drug or failure to comply with the recommended dosage. It is worth noting that with hydrogen peroxide burns, the depth of damage can increase over several days (up to 10).
To avoid unwanted consequences, it is important to know what to do in case of a hydrogen peroxide burn. As in any other case of chemical contact with the skin, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the affected area with running water. It is better to wash off hydrogen peroxide for at least 30 minutes. When washing off, do not use cotton wool or wet wipes, as rubbing will only worsen the situation.
To neutralize the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the skin, you can rinse the affected area with water with a few drops of acid or lemon juice. Be sure to cover the affected area with a dry napkin and seek medical help.
Swallowing hydrogen peroxide can cause severe burns to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. Such burns are dangerous not only to health, but also to human life if the necessary measures are not taken in time.
If hydrogen peroxide gets into the digestive system, you need to call an ambulance immediately. Before the doctors arrive, you can take about 300 ml of sodium thiosulfate (1% solution), wash out the stomach (induce vomiting). In addition, you can take sorbents or products that neutralize the effect of hydrogen peroxide - milk, starch diluted with water.
Carelessness or negligence when treating a wound with hydrogen peroxide can cause severe burns of the mucous membrane of the eye, which is dangerous due to complete or partial loss of vision. If peroxide gets on the mucous membrane of the eye, you need to quickly rinse it with clean water, while it is important to keep the eye open. After thoroughly rinsing the eye, you can use special eye drops with an antiseptic and antibacterial effect (levomycetin), then you need to cover the eye with a dry bandage and seek medical help.
What to do in case of iodine burn?
Iodine is a widely used drug that is found in almost every home medicine cabinet. Iodine is an excellent antiseptic with a number of useful functions. It is often used to cauterize acne, draw an iodine grid for colds, etc. Iodine burns are chemical and develop due to excessive application of the drug to the skin. When burned, dark spots appear on the skin that do not disappear for a long time.
Iodine cannot cause third- and fourth-degree burns, but in any case, you need to know what to do if you are burned by a chemical substance.
Treatment of such burns is quite simple. First of all, you need to wash off the remaining iodine from the skin to prevent the negative impact of the substance. It is better to wash off the iodine with warm water for several minutes (the more time has passed since the moment of the burn, the longer you need to keep the affected area under water).
After this, it is necessary to use special drugs with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, wound-healing and tissue-restoring effects.
It is important to remember that iodine can cause severe allergies, so if you are intolerant to the drug or experience any reactions, you should immediately consult a doctor.
What to do if you get an ammonia burn?
Ammonia is often used in agriculture and allows for large crops to be grown, and without ammonia it would be impossible to produce a large number of materials that are used in everyday life.
But despite all the benefits, highly concentrated doses of ammonia can lead to serious consequences for the body.
Large doses of ammonia can cause severe burns of the mucous membranes and skin, and spasms of the respiratory system and pulmonary edema are also possible.
When highly concentrated doses of ammonia enter the respiratory system, it causes toxic pulmonary edema, and when it enters the skin and mucous membranes, it causes first- and second-degree burns.
Most people don't know what to do with an ammonia burn or how to help the victim before the paramedics arrive. As with any chemical burn, one of the first things to do is to thoroughly wash the affected area.
If ammonia gets into the eyes, you can use regular water to rinse, then you need to drip a 0.5% solution of dicaine.
Skin burns are washed with a 5% acid solution (acetic, boric, citric, etc.)
In case of burns of the respiratory tract, intravenous administration of euphyllin and prednisolone is necessary.
What to do if you get a burn from a freshwater sponge?
Bodyaga is a cosmetic product that is often used in masks, peelings, scrubs for the face and body, as well as the scalp. However, bodyaga powder, especially in large doses, can cause a burn, and quite often women ask the question of what to do if there is a burn after a mask or peeling with bodyaga.
First of all, it is necessary to thoroughly wash off the remains of the product from the skin. The bodyagi contains small needle-shaped particles (silica), which are absorbed into the upper layer of the skin, causing tingling and slight itching. If bodyagi is applied to the skin in excess, redness, swelling, and severe itching are possible, which will continue until the silica dissolves. Until then, it is recommended to moisturize the skin, use anti-inflammatory and wound-healing drugs.
What to do if you get burned by celandine?
Celandine contains a large amount of essential oils, which can cause a burn if they come into contact with the skin. The juice secreted by the plant can come into contact not only with the skin, but also with the mucous membrane of the eye, which can be very dangerous and lead to serious consequences.
Initially, what to do with a celandine burn is to wash the plant juice off the skin as quickly as possible, which will help prevent further irritation. If the plant juice gets on the mucous membrane of the eye, you need to rinse it for at least 10 minutes, then consult a specialist who will prescribe the necessary treatment (ointments, injections, drops).
Skin treatment should be done with antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs. It is recommended to use hormonal ointments (sinaflan) for celandine burns, which will help get rid of severe itching and burning.
A bandage with zinc ointment will speed up the wound healing process.
What to do if you get burned by alcohol?
Alcohol burns are possible for people with sensitive skin. The most common cause of alcohol burns is cauterization of acne, treatment of moderate (severe) thermal or chemical burns with alcohol.
What to do with an alcohol burn depends on the severity of the injury. Mild alcohol burns go away on their own in 2-3 days, but if blisters, severe redness, or swelling appear, you should use wound-healing agents (Panthenol). You can also use medications for skin scars (Kontratubex).
An alcohol burn is less dangerous than a chemical or thermal burn, but it can have a number of unpleasant consequences, including the appearance of age spots.
Burns of the mucous membranes are also possible, in which case it is recommended to rinse with clean water and drugs to neutralize alcohol on the affected surface. In case of burns of the esophagus, eyes, urgent hospitalization is recommended for timely treatment.
What to do if you get a wax burn?
Wax burns can be caused by depilation, careless handling of candles, etc. There are certain rules that recommend what to do in case of mild to moderate burns. It is almost impossible to get severe wax burns, since the wax itself does not have a high melting point. The situation can be aggravated by wax that has stuck to the skin. In this case, you should not immediately tear it off, you need to cool the affected area well under running water or with a compress with ice cubes, which will help reduce the pain, in addition, hardened wax is easily removed from the skin. After this, you need to treat the skin with an antiseptic.
Treatment of wax burns can be open or closed. If the burn area is quite large, with multiple blisters, then the treatment is carried out in a closed way (bandages soaked in ointments, creams and other regenerating and antiseptic preparations are applied - syntomycin ointment, Olazol).
If pus appears on the surface of the burn, special wipes based on antiseptic agents are used.
What to do in case of an alkali burn?
Alkali has a strong effect on human skin, causing severe burns. Confusion or ignorance of what to do in case of a burn caused by a chemical substance leads to serious consequences. If alkali gets on your clothes, you must remove them as quickly as possible so as not to touch other areas of the skin (tear or cut if necessary). After this, you should thoroughly wash the affected area (until the itching and pain disappear) to completely wash off the remains of the alkali from the skin and treat the wound with preparations with regenerating properties.
If alkali gets on the mucous membranes (esophagus, eyes), it is also recommended to wash the affected area and use neutralizers (weak vinegar solution) for rinsing. After this, an urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary.
What to do if you get a burn from basiron?
Baziron cream is recommended for problem skin prone to acne. The drug has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effects, regulates sebum levels. In most cases, the cream is well tolerated by patients (in some cases, severe skin dryness is observed).
But if applied excessively to the skin, minor burns, severe irritation, redness, and burning may occur.
Burns from Baziron are chemical, and the first thing to do in case of a burn is to immediately wash off the remains of the product with plenty of clean running water. After that, you should apply a soothing cream to the skin (with chamomile, aloe, calendula). Also, in case of a Baziron burn, you can wipe the skin with chamomile tincture to reduce inflammation.
What to do in case of gas burn?
Gas has a latent heat of vaporization, in other words, when in contact with the skin, the gas gives off more heat, therefore, the burn is more pronounced. Such an injury is classified as thermal damage, and the first thing to do with a gas burn is to cool the affected area. Cool running water, a compress, etc. are suitable for this. After that, the damaged area is treated with Panthenol or another wound-healing agent and covered with a dry, clean bandage. In case of severe and deep damage, it is recommended to consult a specialist.
What to do if you get a pepper burn?
Pepper burns are considered the most dangerous type of burns. Few people know what to do if you get a red pepper burn, but there are special techniques that help treat this type of burn.
Red pepper releases essential oils that irritate the skin and mucous membranes and, if consumed in excess, can cause burns.
Mostly, red pepper burns occur during cooking. If redness, burning, swelling appear, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the affected area with cold water. You need to rinse until the pain begins to decrease. Further actions depend on the affected area. If a large area is burned, then it is necessary to consult a specialist about further treatment.
In case of a minor burn, after washing, you can use soothing and wound-healing medications (Bepanten, Aloe Vera, etc.).
In case of mucosal burns (oral cavity, throat, etc.), to neutralize the effect of red pepper, you need to drink milk or fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir). Also, in case of mucosal burns, creamy ice cream has a good pain-relieving effect.
Fresh bread and rice absorb the oils released by pepper well.
If the pain does not go away, swelling appears, etc., urgent medical attention is required.
What to do if you get a nettle burn?
Nettle juice contains formic acid, histamine, choline, which provoke a burning sensation at the point of contact with the plant. Usually, such burns are considered harmless and do not require medical attention (the exception is tropical plants, contact with which can be fatal).
So, the first thing to do with a nettle burn is to cool the affected area (with running cold water, a cold compress, ice), which will help reduce the pain. If cooling does not help, you can wipe the burned area with a solution of apple cider vinegar (you can also use salicylic, camphor, boric alcohol).
The burn site can be treated with an anti-inflammatory agent (chamomile, aloe) and an antihistamine can be taken (Claritin, Diazolin, etc.).
If the burn is severe and blisters appear, apply a compress with boric acid.
In this case, traditional medicine recommends applying a gruel of sorrel leaves to the affected area, which will help relieve discomfort.
Only a specialist should prescribe any medications for the treatment of chemical burns; in most cases, wound-healing agents are used. Treatment largely depends on the substance that caused the burn.