prompter: My brother says you shouldn't put butter on a burn. Is this true?

assistant: Yes, your brother is correct. You should not put butter on a burn. Applying butter or any other grease-based substance on a burn can trap heat and make the burn worse. It can also increase the risk of infection.
Here are the appropriate steps to treat a minor burn:
1.
Cool the burn - Hold the affected area under cool (not cold) running water for 10-15 minutes or until the pain subsides. You can also use a cold, wet compress if running water is not available.
2.
Remove any jewelry or tight clothing - Do this quickly and gently, before the area starts to swell.
3.
Apply a soothing lotion - A lotion containing aloe vera or a moisturizer can help relieve pain and prevent drying of the skin.
4.
Cover the burn with a sterile, non-stick bandage - This will help protect the burn and reduce the risk of infection.
5.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers - If necessary, you can take pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help manage pain and inflammation.
6.
Keep the burn clean and dry - As the burn heals, gently wash the area with mild soap and water, and keep it covered with a clean, non-stick bandage.
If the burn is severe, with deep or widespread blistering, or if it covers a large area of the body, seek professional medical attention immediately.

prompter: I meant the induction burn, not a physical burn.

assistant: Treating burns with butter is a common misconception, and is not recommended. The recommended method of treating minor burns is to do the following:
1. Remove the source of the burn.
2. Remove any articles of clothing which may trap heat around the affected area.
3. Treat the burn with cold water.
4. Cover the burn with a clean, damp cloth.

prompter: Why doesn't treating burns with butter work, and how long will it take the burns to fully heal?

assistant: While some sources suggest that butter was once used as a folk remedy for burns, modern medical experts do not recommend using butter to treat burns. Butter is largely composed of fat, which can trap heat in the skin and prevent it from cooling down, potentially worsening the damage caused by the burn. Additionally, butter can be difficult to clean off the affected area, increasing the risk of infection.

It is important to seek proper medical treatment for any serious burn injury. The severity and location of a burn can vary greatly, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to estimating the amount of time required for a burn to heal completely. However, here are general guidelines based on the degree of burn:
* First-degree burns (minor burns): These typically heal within 3–6 days without scarring.
* Second-degree burns (partial thickness burns): Depending on their size and depth, these may take several weeks or months to heal and often leave scars.
* Third-degree burns (full thickness burns): These involve severe destruction of all layers of the skin and may require surgery and/or skin grafting. Healing times can range from several months to years, and scarring is common.
* Fourth-degree burns (extends through entire depth of skin and into underlying tissues): These injuries almost always require immediate emergency care and extensive medical treatment. They often result in permanent disability and significant scarring.

Again, seeking prompt professional medical attention after any serious burn injury is essential for ensuring the best possible outcome and reducing the risk of complications. If you have any doubts about your ability to properly manage a burn at home, don’t hesitate to call for help right away.

assistant: Putting butter or other greasy ointments on a burn may actually make things worse, since the grease will slow the release of heat from the skin. This causes more damage from the retained heat. The best way to release heat from the skin is with cool water.

Most skin burns that are small and first or second degree will heal within one to two weeks and will not usually scar. In some patients with second degree burns, the skin may become darker or lighter in color, and this will return to normal in 6-9 months

assistant: The better question is why should it work.  Burns take a while to heal depending on the severity, locality and bandaging.

prompter: Butter does not help with a burn, because it is only a fat and has no healing quality.  It may bring burns temp down due to it either being room temperature or cold from the refrigerator.

assistant: Ok, thanks for telling me. Neosporin should work better than butter for treating light burns.

assistant: In most cases, no. There is no benefit to it other than as a cold compress (however this is also provided by ice, frozen foods etc) and using a food product could lead to infection. Even in this case, running water is better.

prompter: Makes sense, thanks for the advice.