You just grabbed a hot pan handle, and your other hand is already reaching for the butter. Stop. Cool running water, right now, for up to 20 minutes. That's the fix. Not ice. Not butter. Not toothpaste. Just cool water and a little patience. But the part after the water is where a lot of kitchen burns go sideways. One: get the burn under cool running water the second it happens, not after you finish cooking.

The NHS says 20 minutes. It feels like forever. Stay there anyway. Two: while it cools, slide off rings and watches before the swelling starts. Clothing near the burn comes off too. But anything stuck to the burn stays exactly where it is. Three: once it's cooled, lay cling film loosely over it. Don't wrap it around. Here's what people get wrong: plasters. They stick to the skin and cause more damage.

Four: blisters stay covered and stay intact. Let them heal on their own. Five: if it hurts, take acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, or ibuprofen to ease pain and inflammation. Myth number one: ice is the fastest way to stop a burn. No ice, says the American Red Cross. Not even an ice pack. It risks making the burn worse. Butter, cream, toothpaste? They don't cool a burn, and they may cause an infection.

And if you end up needing treatment, hospital staff have to remove all of it. That can hurt. So why water? A first-degree burn only involves the top layer of your skin. It goes red and painful, maybe a little swollen. Cooling it fast is the core first aid. Ice risks more damage. Butter and toothpaste don't cool. Cool running water does the job. The American Academy of Dermatology says about 10 minutes for a minor burn.

The NHS says 20. Even done right, a small burn can take around 2 weeks to heal. But what if there's no tap nearby? Cool bottled water, or a clean, cool wet towel. Didn't cool it right away? Do it anyway. It can still help up to 3 hours later. A burned child? Cool just the burned area. A whole-body cold bath could cause hypothermia. Always get medical advice. Large or deep, or on the face, genitals or bottom?

Call 911 or go to the ER. Caused by chemicals or electricity, or on an older adult? Get medical help. Don't drive yourself. Cool running water, rings off, cover it loosely, leave the blisters alone, skip the kitchen remedies. Once it heals, a broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, helps minimize scarring. Butter belongs on toast. Burns belong under the tap.