For a hot-oil burn, hold the skin under cool running tap water for 20 minutes, remove rings and bangles, and cover it loosely with cling film. Skip toothpaste, butter, haldi and ice. Large or deep burns, white or charred skin, burns on the face or private parts, and chemical or electrical burns need emergency care straight away. Burns larger than the palm or on the hands, feet or joints need a same-day visit to a doctor, such as general surgeon Dr Dhananjay Patil in Chinchwad, PCMC.
Ask anyone in the kitchen what to put on a burn and you will hear toothpaste, then butter, then haldi. Each of these feels cool for a minute. The WHO advises against all of them, and each has to be cleaned off before the burn can be treated.
OPD 1, Ground Floor, Chetna Hospital, Sambhaji Nagar Road, next to Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank, Sambhajinagar, Chinchwad, Pune 411019
Why this is in the news now: Diwali falls in the second week of November 2026 (SmartPuja), and faral frying is under way in homes across PCMC. Emergency doctors describe a yearly “festival surge” in burns from crackers and cooking (ETV Bharat).
Four things people put on a burn, and what to do instead
1. Toothpaste
It is cold out of the tube, so it feels right. The WHO advises against putting toothpaste on a burn, and it has to be cleaned off before the burn can be dressed.
2. Butter, ghee or oil
The World Health Organization lists ice, oils, butter, toothpaste and traditional pastes among the things not to put on a burn.
3. Ice or iced water
The WHO says not to put ice on a burn. The NHS advises cool running water for 20 minutes instead.
4. Popping the blister
The blister roof is a natural dressing. Breaking it opens the wound to infection. Leave it, and cover the area loosely.
The first 20 minutes, step by step
- Move away from the heat and switch off the gas.
- Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes.
- Take off rings, bangles and tight clothing near the burn before it swells, unless something is stuck to the skin.
- Cover loosely with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy cloth. Do not wrap it tight.
- Keep the person warm, especially a child, while the burn is being cooled.
These steps follow the first-aid advice from the NHS and the WHO.
Minor burn or hospital burn?
| Usually fine at home with first aid | Get same-day care (emergency for deep, large, face or private-part burns) |
|---|---|
| Small red area, smaller than the person’s palm | Larger than the palm, or blisters over a wide area |
| On the forearm, leg or trunk | On the face, hands, feet, joints or private parts |
| Pink, painful skin | White, leathery or charred skin, even if it hurts less |
| Healthy adult | Child under 5, pregnant woman, older person, or someone with diabetes |
| Settling over a few days | Spreading redness, pus, fever, or pain that keeps getting worse |
A burn that hurts less is not always a smaller burn. Deep burns can damage the nerve endings, so a white or leathery patch needs to be seen even when it does not hurt much.
The carousel, slide by slide
These are the slides from our Instagram post. Save them for the faral season or share them with whoever does the frying at home.
What happens when you come to the OPD
The doctor usually looks at the size, depth and site of the burn, cleans it, and decides whether it can be dressed and followed up in the OPD or needs admission. Most kitchen burns can be managed with dressings and review visits. People with diabetes need closer follow-up because their burns can heal more slowly.
Other conditions Dr Dhananjay treats
Dr Dhananjay Patil’s OPD covers general surgery at Chetna Hospital, including laparoscopic surgery in Chinchwad. Recent guides on this site cover anal fistula treatment in Chinchwad, when a kidney stone needs a procedure and piles and fissure during festival fasting.
Consultation near you: burn care in Chinchwad, PCMC
Dr Dhananjay Patil sees patients at OPD 1, Ground Floor, Chetna Hospital, Sambhaji Nagar Road, next to Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank, Sambhajinagar, Chinchwad, Pune 411019. OPD hours on his Google profile are 10 am to 1 pm daily and 5 pm to 9 pm Monday to Saturday. Patients come from Chinchwad, Pimpri, Akurdi, Nigdi, Ravet, Wakad, Hinjewadi, Pimple Saudagar, Thergaon, Tathawade, Punawale, Moshi and Bhosari.
Frequently asked questions
What should I put on a burn from hot oil?
Hold the burn under cool running tap water for 20 minutes, take off rings, bangles or clothing near it unless stuck to the skin, and cover it loosely with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy cloth. Do not use toothpaste, butter, haldi, oil or ice.
Should I burst a burn blister?
No. The blister protects the new skin underneath. Leave it intact and cover it loosely. If it bursts on its own, keep the area clean and covered and get it checked if it becomes red, painful or starts to ooze pus.
When does a burn need a doctor?
Go to emergency straight away if the burn is large or deep, looks white, leathery or charred, is on the face or private parts, or is a chemical or electrical burn. See a doctor the same day if it is larger than the person’s palm, is on the hands, feet or joints, or if the person is a child under 5, pregnant or older.
Is toothpaste good for burns?
No. The WHO advises against toothpaste, butter and other household pastes on a burn, and they have to be cleaned off before the wound can be dressed.
Where can I get burn treatment in Chinchwad, PCMC?
Dr Dhananjay Patil, Consultant General Surgeon (MBBS, MS General Surgery), sees burn patients at OPD 1, Ground Floor, Chetna Hospital, Sambhaji Nagar Road, Chinchwad, Pune 411019. Call or WhatsApp 83908 61787.
OPD 1, Ground Floor, Chetna Hospital, Sambhaji Nagar Road, next to Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank, Sambhajinagar, Chinchwad, Pune 411019
Your doctor: Dr Dhananjay Patil
Consultant General Surgeon
MBBS, MS (General Surgery)
General, laser and laparoscopic surgery, including piles, fissure, fistula, hernia, gallbladder and kidney stones, at Chetna Hospital, Chinchwad. View full profile
Sources
- NHS. Burns and scalds.
- World Health Organization. Burns fact sheet.
- ETV Bharat. Emergency medicine specialist explains the “festival surge” in burns and injuries.
- SmartPuja. Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat.
This article is general health information and does not replace a consultation. Large, deep, chemical or electrical burns need emergency care.
How this article was prepared: Chetna Hospital’s content team wrote it with the help of AI writing tools and checked it against the sources listed. It is general health information, not personal medical advice from the doctor named on this page.
