Abstract: Objective To observe the changes in skin temperature after cooling therapy immediate following superficial second-degree scald injury in Wistar rats in a hot and humid environment,and evaluate the effect of the dressing materials for the cooling therapy.Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal temperature control (NTC),normal temperature cooling therapy (NCT),hot and humid control (HHC),and hot and humid cooling therapy (HCT) groups (n=6). Different interventions were applied to the scalded rats: dry bulb temperature (Tdb) of 26.33±1.29 ℃ with a relative humidity (rh) of 71.05%±4.57% for the two normal temperature groups,and Tdb 35.33±0.35 ℃ with rh of 70.81%±1.38% for the two hot and humid environment groups. The dressing materials for the cooling therapy were applied to the two cooling therapy groups but not for the two control groups. The exposure time for the therapy was 125 min,and the skin temperature was measured every 20 min,starting from 5 min after the scald. Results The skin temperature rose in hot and humid environment and decreased when cold therapy was applied (P<0.001). Interactions were found between the exposure time and environ- mental temperature (P≤0.002),between the exposure time and cooling therapy (P<0.05),and between these 3 factors (P<0.05) to influence the skin temperature,which was 1.92±2.13 ℃ lower in NCT group than in NTC group,and 2.36±1.03 ℃ lower in HCT group than in HHC group.Conclusion The dressing materials for cooling therapy effectively reduce the skin temperature at the site of the scald injury to prevent the progression of heat-induced injury and the unfavorable effects of the heat remaining on the scalded skin.