Abstract: A new method for treatment of skin burn is disclosed. A known material, sodium polyacrylate, has been discovered to be useful in the treatment of burns. The method of treatment includes spreading sodium polyacrylate powder as a dressing over the skin burn area, and wetting the powder, such as by spraying with sterilized distilled water until the powder becomes moist. The outer wetted surface of the moistened powder layer dries to provide a parchment like surface. Such a dressing may be maintained in position over the skin burn area for about 2-3 weeks, operating to control loss of water from the body through the burn area, avoiding capillary permeability, and appearing to prevent infection of the burn area. The dressing may be selectively removed or is sloughed off, and is eventually pushed off by the growth of new tissue under the bottom surface of the protective layer. Sodium polyacrylate (PANa) may be used by itself, or mixed with an anti-inflammatory, or with an antibiotic.