system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Does applying ice or cold water to a superficial burn make any impact on the actual injury? Or does it just soothe the pain for a moment?
gpt
The initial effect would be to lower the temperature. This will decrease the amount of damage at the cellular level.

Second effect would be to cause the constriction of the blood vessels in the area. This will decrease the amplitude of the immune response,  and therefore inflammation, in the area that was burned.

I am sure there are other benefits and maybe other can chime in.