Like so many afflictions and incidents that affect our skin, burns can have both a cosmetic and injurious impact. Beyond the pain of getting a burn, you could be at risk of infection, nerve damage, and mobility limitation, depending on the degree and type of burn; and once the initial health concerns have passed, you’re faced with the possibility of discoloration and scarring.

While we can make choices to avoid risky behavior — if you’ve never handled fireworks before, why start now? — some accidents are unavoidable, whether it’s losing your grip on a curling wand, being splashed as you move a pot of boiling water, or having a bad experience with a chemical relaxer. Thankfully, there are wise ways to handle a burn in the moment, while it’s healing, and if a scar arises.