[Sharon]

Accidents in the workplace are the most common cause of hot tar burns. The sticky nature of hot tar and asphalt means that its removal from burn injuries can be problematic. Numerous agents have been used in the past to remove tar, but many of these are ineffective, hard to come by and even potentially harmful. This case report describes the efficient removal of tar using commercially available butter.

A 35-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a hot tar burn to the right hand, having accidentally spilled tar while working as a roofer. Immediately following the injury, he had put his hand in a bucket of water.

He had sustained a second degree burn to the right hand presenting as open blisters partially covered in tar. Initial treatment involved rinsing with cool water for 15 minutes. Although this helped to cool the injury it made no impact on the tar itself. In the absence of other products for the removal of tar, commercially available butter was applied.

Tar still present on skin after 5 minutes rinsing in cold water



Commercially available butter is used (ideally Lurpak)


The butter is applied using non-sterile gloves


The gradual disappearance of the tar is clearly visible while applying the butter


Removal of all the tar was achieved in 15 minutes


The tar/butter residue was removed using a dry dressing




The patient's hand after three days' treatment with silver sulfadiazine


He healed up completely after 14 days treatment and regained normal function of his hand

[Sterlig]

Cool!

[phuckphace]

That butter never happen to me. I hope he's feeling much butter!

[Eldeanio100]

Butter me up...I'm going in

[Shakey]

I've seen much worse than that, and the guy had to basically wear it for 2-3 days until it released.

[Faline]

Good old butter

[Tibsim]

Mayonnaise will also do the trick. When I worked fire rescue in my youth, the local hospital kept a Sam's club size Jar in an ER Fridge for emergency's with roofing workers getting covered in it.

[choochie]

I've heard it takes an oil to break an oil. Works good.

[Oswald2001]

I would suggest Olive Oil.

No cholesterol.

[LadyCPlum]

I wonder how they find out these things work, like peanut butter getting rid of gum in the hair...who comes up with idea to try something like this out???