Make sure to have cool water handy in case of an emergency. If done within the first minute or so, cold water emersion for up to 30 minutes can reduce total area and severity of the burn. The crystallization process starts with stirring and heat. Crystals affect the sugar's texture. Large crystals form in hot syrups occasionally stirred.
Small crystals form in cool syrups that are constantly stirred.
Avoid crystallization by cooling the syrup rapidly in cold water. Use a heat lamp to soften sugar while you are working with pulled sugar. Wipe spills on the counters or floors immediately to avoid hardened sugar later. Some sugar work, especially spinning, can be quite messy, so it is a good idea to cover up areas where flicking sugar may drop. Before beginning a sugar project, place two plastic bags nearby.