I have burned myself twice in my life… and both times I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or supposed to do during the situation.
The first time, I was 18.
I was preparing this wax tray for a frog dissection (yes, the kind from high school biology class).
I was breaking candles over the pan while the wax was already melting, and I did not think about… physics.
You see, when you snap a candle free from the wick, there is resistance and then suddenly zero resistance.
My hand slammed into the hot pan, and molten wax flew straight up my right arm, all the way to the shoulder.
I panicked, ran to the comfort room, and plunged my whole arm into a large container of water.
I had no idea if that was right or wrong.
It was just instinct.
The second time I was 30. A burning wooden beam fell on me, and I used my left arm to shield my head.
I still have scant scars on both arms from those two incidents… though they have mostly faded over the years.
But both times I thought: what should I have actually done?
This article is my answer to past me, and hopefully it helps you too.
What Is a Burn?
A burn is damage to your skin (and sometimes the tissue underneath) caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or friction.
Most of us think of burns as just fire and hot water, but even a really bad sunburn or touching a motorcycle exhaust pipe counts.
The skin is the body’s first line of defense against infection, so when it gets damaged, things can get serious if not handled proprely.
Burns are classified into three degrees depending on how deep the damage goes:
| Burn Degree | What It Means | What It Looks Like |
| First-degree | Only the outer layer of skin (epidermis) is affected | Red, dry, painful — like a sunburn |
| Second-degree | Damages the epidermis and part of the dermis (second layer) | Blisters, wet appearance, very painful |
| Third-degree | Full thickness — all layers of skin destroyed | White, brown, or black; may be numb; always needs emergency care |
Warning Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
| Symptom | What It Might Mean |
| Redness, mild pain, no blisters | First-degree burn — usually safe to treat at home |
| Blisters forming within hours | Second-degree burn — watch carefully; may need a doctor |
| Area larger than your palm | Even a minor burn this size warrants professional assessment |
| Burn on face, hands, feet, groin, or over a joint | These locations are high-risk regardless of depth — see a doctor |
| White, brown, or blackened skin | Third-degree burn — this is an emergency |
| Signs of infection: pus, increasing redness, fever | The wound may be getting infected — do not wait this out |
| Numbness where the burn is | Could indicate deep tissue damage — get checked immediately |
If you or someone in your family has a second-degree burn covering a large area, or anything that looks like a third-degree burn, do not try to manage it at home.
Go straight to a hospital emergency room.
For less urgent burns that are not healing properly, a general practitioner or dermatologist can assess and treat.
A basic ER consultation can range from PHP 300 to PHP 800 before medications.
The Details: How Burns Work and Why Blisters Happen
When heat damages your skin, your body immediately tries to protect itself.
Blood vessels near the burn dilate (widen), which is why the area turns red and swells.
Fluid leaks from those vessels into the tissue — and when that fluid collects between the outer and inner layers of skin, you get blisters.
I had plenty of those on my right arm after the wax incident.
For a few months, my arm was a mess of pus and blistered skin.
Not my finest hour especially since I was trying to be impressive to our then class president and top student who is now a doctor… aaahhh memories of studying Medical Technology…
The thing is, I did one thing right without knowing it: I ran cold water over the burn immediately. (Well, technically I plunged the whole arm in, which is basically the same thing.)
The reason this helps is that cooling the burned area slows down the continued damage that heat causes even after the source is gone.
Think of it like taking a hot pan off the stove — the pan stays hot and keeps cooking whatever is on it.
Your skin does the same thing if you do not cool it down fast enough.
What I did wrong was not doing anything else properly after that.
I did not cover it.
I did not use any antiseptic.
I just… hoped for the best, because I was young and I didn’t like doctors. … and look where I am now… I ended up marrying one…
The blisters got infected.
The healing took months instead of weeks.
So yes, there is a better way, and I wish someone had told me about it.
In the Philippines, burns from open flames, hot oil for cooking, and motorcycle exhausts are among the most common household injuries.
The humid climate here in Davao also means that open wounds can get infected faster than in cooler, drier climates.
That is something a lot of us underestimate.
What to Do
- Run cool (not ice cold) water over the burn for 10 to 20 minutes — this is the single most important first step; do not use ice, butter, or toothpaste
- Remove rings, bracelets, or tight clothing near the burned area before swelling starts
- Cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-fluffy material — cling wrap (like the kind used for food) works surprisingly well as a temporary cover
- Take an over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen or paracetamol for pain relief
- Do NOT pop blisters — they are protecting the skin underneath from infection
- Apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer or aloe vera gel (not aloe flavored drinks, the pure gel) once the area has cooled down
- Keep the area clean and monitor for signs of infection over the following days
These steps are doable at home.
You do not need anything fancy.
Cool water, clean covering, pain relief, and patience.
The mistake most of us make is reaching for the kalamansior coconut oil or worse, toothpaste, because someone told us it works.
It does not.
It traps heat and increases infection risk.
Pros and Cons: Treating a Minor Burn at Home vs. Seeing a Doctor
| Reasons to Act / See a Doctor | Why Most Filipinos Don’t |
| Proper cleaning prevents infection, especially in humid Davao | ‘Okay lang ‘to’ — it’s a common burn, not a big deal’ |
| A doctor can tell if the burn is deeper than it looks | Time and work — who has a whole morning to sit at the clinic? |
| Prescription antibiotics or silver sulfadiazine cream can prevent weeks of suffering | Cost of consultation feels like too much for ‘just a burn’ |
| Burns on hands or face can affect function and appearance long-term | Embarrassment — especially for guys who don’t want to admit it hurts |
| Scarring can be minimized with early, proper treatment | Denial — ‘gagaling din yan ng kusa’ (it will heal on its own)’ |
Costs in the Philippines (Davao)
| Service / Treatment | Approximate Cost in Davao |
| ER consultation (government hospital like SPMC) | PHP 0 to PHP 200 (minimal or waived for indigents) |
| ER consultation (private hospital like Davao Doctors) | PHP 500 to PHP 1,500 |
| Wound dressing materials (gauze, antiseptic, tape) | PHP 80 to PHP 250 at any pharmacy |
| Silver sulfadiazine (Flamazine) cream for burns | PHP 300 to PHP 600 per tube (prescription needed) |
| Follow-up dermatology consultation | PHP 400 to PHP 800 depending on clinic |
| Scar treatment (silicone gel or sheets, if needed) | PHP 400 to PHP 1,200+ per product |
Costs vary per hospital and whether you have PhilHealth. It is always worth calling ahead. SPMC and other government hospitals offer more affordable options for those without private insurance. Do not let cost be the reason you end up with a badly infected burn.
First-degree burns and small second-degree burns can usually be handled at home if you cool them properly, keep them clean, and watch for infection.
But the moment something looks worse than expected — bigger, deeper, infected, or not healing — please go see a real doctor.
Do not wait until it is a serious problem.
My scars have faded.
Yours do not have to form in the first place if you act correctly from the start.
DISCLAIMER
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment.
