A burn injury is not only excruciatingly painful, but it can also leave you with unsightly scars. Fortunately, the following five measures will help you keep such scars at bay:

Run the Burn Site Under Cool Water

The burning won't automatically stop when the hot object or substance is removed. The longer the burning continues the higher the chances that you will be scarred. Therefore, stop the burn from spreading by putting the burn site under running water for ten minutes or so. Don't use warm or ice-cold water; ensure it is cool (1-5°C) by testing it on a non-injured part of the body.

Get Immediate Treatment

The sooner you consult a physician the sooner you will get treatment to heal the site and prevent scarring. Call for emergency services or go to the emergency room; it all depends on the severity of your burns and your capabilities. Don't try unproven home or natural treatment methods; it is better to prevent scarring than to wait and treat it.

Prevent Infections

Many burn scars aren't caused by the actual burn, but by the infections that prey on the burn sites. Therefore, it's in your best interest to keep the burn site free from infection. The best way of doing this is to keep the site as clean as possible. always wash your hands with soap and water before touching the site and avoid touching it all the time. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotic treatments if they think it is warranted. 

Leave the Blisters Alone

Popping the blisters or scratching the burn site is a bad idea on so many levels. It delays the healing process, may introduce dangerous microorganisms to the site, and may also widen the wound. Resist the urge to scratch the wound even if it itches; in fact, expect some itchiness during the healing process, but you still shouldn't scratch it.

Try Massage Therapy 

There is some evidence that massage therapy helps to prevent scarring of burn sites. However, you should only begin the therapy once your burn injury has healed or is almost healing. Starting too early may delay healing and even aggravate the scarring. It's a good idea to consult your doctor or dermatologist before starting massage therapy.

Hopefully, the precautions above will prevent or minimize your scarring after a burn accident. All isn't lost, however, if you have developed scars after a burn accident. There are options for scar treatment as well.