Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Determining the severity of the burn
• Part 2 of 4: Soaking or flushing the burns
• Part 3 of 4: Reducing the pain with medication
• Part 4 of 4: Taking the pain away with natural remedies
• Warnings

There are many ways to get a burn, from touching a hot pan or lying in the sun to splashing yourself with a chemical liquid. Third degree burns are the most serious and should always be treated by medical professionals. However, first and second degree burns can be treated at home, depending on size and location.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Determining the severity of the burn

1. Look for the signs of a first degree burn. A first degree burn is usually a thermal burn caused by contact with a hot object or environment. It could be a result of sun exposure (sunburn), oil splashing from a hot pan, or accidentally touching a hot oven rack. A first degree burn is painful and will leave a deep red color on the top layer of skin (epidermis). But despite the stinging redness, there is no blistering with a first degree burn. The skin remains dry and intact.
   • First degree burns are common and very rarely require professional medical treatment.
   • It heals in three to five days.
2. Look for blistering on a superficial, second degree burn. A superficial second degree burn will be red, like a first degree burn. But the skin damage will go beyond the first layer (epidermis) to the top of the second layer (dermis). And unlike a 1st degree burn, you will see blistering in a 2nd degree burn. Pain and blood are both good signs, as they indicate that there is no actual nerve or blood vessel damage.
   • Superficial second degree burns usually heal within two weeks without scarring and do not require medical attention.
3. Examine a second-degree burn for symptoms that require medical attention. A superficial second degree burn can heal on its own, but a deep second degree burn should be evaluated by a doctor. Look for patches of pale skin scattered between the blisters. The blisters will bleed easily and may secrete a straw-colored material. If left untreated, deep second-degree burns can become third-degree burns in a matter of days. Always seek medical treatment for a second degree burn if:
   • You don't know what burn you have.
   • You have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
   • You have a chemical burn, especially alkaline burns like Drano.
4. Note the size of second degree burns. A first degree burn can always heal on its own at home, but major second degree burns should be evaluated by a doctor. Whether superficial or deep, a second degree burn that covers more than 10-15% of your skin needs medical attention. The doctor will assess the burn as well as treat any possible dehydration. If you have major burns, you will lose a lot of moisture through your damaged skin. Tell the doctor if you feel thirsty, weak, dizzy, or have trouble urinating. If he suspects dehydration, your doctor will give you IV fluid.
5. Seek immediate medical attention for a third degree burn. A third degree burn affects both the epidermis and the deep layers of the dermis. Untreated third-degree burns can become septic and cause death. They can be distinguished from a second degree burn by the presence of nerve, blood vessel and muscle damage.
   • Because of the nerve damage, the burn will feel numb rather than painful, although the edges may still hurt.
   • The skin will look and feel dry and thick / leathery. It will likely be swollen.
   • Instead of redness, you can find white, yellow, brown, purple or even black skin.
   • You may feel thirsty, dizzy, or weak. Dehydration can cause problems with urination.
6. Seek medical attention if necessary. First degree burns and most superficial second degree burns can be treated at home and heal fairly quickly. But you should still consider seeing a doctor if the burn doesn't heal in a few weeks, or if new, unexplained symptoms come up. An exacerbation of pain, swelling, redness or discharge that is not controllable should also be investigated. Seek emergency help immediately if you experience the following:
   • Burns to hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks or major joints
   • Chemical or electrical burns
   • Third degree burns
   • Difficulty breathing or burning of the airways

Part 2 of 4: Soaking or flushing the burns

1. Rinse chemicals from eyes to avoid burns. Eye burns can be serious, so you need to take immediate action. If you get chemicals in your eyes, rinse your eyes for at least five full minutes. Always see a doctor for an examination after a possible chemical burn to the eyes. He can add a solution containing 1% calcium gluconate to your eye wash routine. The doctor may also prescribe anesthetic eye drops to control your pain.
   • If you wear contact lenses, remove them carefully when rinsing your eyes.
2. Soak chemical burns in water. Chemicals powerful enough to burn the skin can continue to work through to deeper layers if left untreated. Therefore, all chemical burns must be treated medically. But while you wait for the doctor, it's best to hold the burn under cool (not cold) running water, or keep it in a water bath.
3. Soak thermal burns in cool water. Remember, thermal burns are caused by heat, not chemicals - be it from the sun, steam, or a hot object. The first thing to do with a first degree or superficial second degree thermal burn is to lower the skin temperature of the burn. Place the burned skin in cool (not cold) water for 10 minutes. If you don't want to waste running water, fill a sink or bath to submerge the skin. You can refill it with cold water when the water heats up, or use ice cubes to keep the water cool.
   • Make sure all burned skin is either submerged in water or kept under running water.
4. Consider putting ice on top if cold water doesn't work. Know that many experts advise against putting ice on a burn because the dramatic temperature change can cause freezer burn. Always cool the skin in water for at least 20 minutes if you want to put ice on it. Put the ice in a resealable bag with some water and wrap a cloth or paper towel around it to form a barrier between your skin and the extreme cold. You can also use a bag of frozen vegetables from your freezer if you don't have ice. Put the ice on for about 10 minutes, moving it around the burn if it gets too cold.
   • Always make sure to use a cloth or kitchen paper as a barrier.

Part 3 of 4: Reducing the pain with medication

1. Do not apply burn ointment for the first 24 hours. Ointment seals the burn and can even prevent healing if you apply it too early. For first-degree burns, wait 24 hours before applying burn products or other ointments.
   • If you are away from a healthcare provider and you have a second degree burn, apply bacitracin ointment (an antibiotic) to the burn to prevent infection while going to a treatment area. This is the only one situation where you can apply bacitracin to burned skin.
2. Find over-the-counter benzocaine products. Benzocaine is a topical anesthetic that can numb nerve endings in the skin to relieve pain from the burn. The drug store can sell various varieties of benzocaine brands, such as Anacaine, Chiggerex, Mandelay, Medicone, Outgro or Solarcaine. Moreover, these products are available in various forms of application: cream, spray, liquid, gel, ointment or wax. Read the instructions on the packaging for the correct use and dosage.
   • Be careful not to overuse benzocaine, as it absorbs into the skin more easily than some other topical anesthetics.
3. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. You can ease the pain of a minor burn by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. An NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent) such as ibuprofen or naproxen will help soothe the pain and inflammation of the burn.
   • Follow the dosage directions on the packaging. Take the smallest dose that is effective in relieving your pain.
4. Spread shaving cream over the burn. If cold water doesn't relieve pain, shaving cream is a surprisingly effective solution! Shaving cream like Barbasol contains a chemical ingredient called triethanolamine. Triethanolamine is an active ingredient of Biatine, a prescription cream used to treat more severe burns in hospitals. Spread it over the affected skin and leave it alone until the pain subsides.
   • Avoid shaving creams with menthol as these can cause more irritation.
   • You should only consider this if you have a first degree burn. Don't try this method with a burn more severe than a sunburn.

Part 4 of 4: Taking the pain away with natural remedies

1. Be aware of the limitations of natural resources. While you may like the idea of ​​home or natural remedies, many of these methods have not been tested and rely solely on anecdotal rather than scientific evidence. Without medical evidence, these methods can be risky and probably not recommended by your doctor. If you want to use a natural remedy, talk to your doctor first.
   • If you want to use these methods, you still need to cool and clean the burn first. You should also seek immediate medical attention for anything more serious than a first-degree or superficial second-degree burn.
2. Apply aloe to minor burns and sunburns. The grocery store skincare aisle will have many products with aloe. The chemicals in the aloe's leaves do more than just reduce pain and inflammation. They promote faster healing and the growth of new healthy skin. Treat the burn with aloe lotion several times a day as needed.
   • Never apply aloe products to an open wound.
   • You can use pure aloe from an aloe plant. Alternatively, you can look for 100% pure aloe vera gel in the store.
3. Look for cream products with St. John's wort. Like the aloe plant, St. John's wort has anti-inflammatory properties. But lotions with St. John's wort can be harder to find than lotions with aloe. However, you can easily find them online and in many health stores.
   • However, do not apply St. John's wort essential oil to burns as this will keep the skin from cooling down.
4. Use essential oils to treat lighter burns. Essential oils known to soothe pain and prevent blistering include lavender, Roman and German chamomile, and yarrow. If the burn is large - from sunburn, for example - you can add a few drops of oil to your bath and soak in it. Smaller spots benefit from more targeted treatment.
   • Make sure to cool the burned skin with cold water for at least 10 minutes.
   • Soak a clean gauze or cloth in ice cold water.
   • Add one drop of essential oil per 2 cm2 of burned skin to this gauze / cloth.
   • Place the cloth on the burned area.
5. Treat smaller burns with honey. Natural healers have been promoting honey for centuries, and modern science agrees. Honey has antibacterial properties that promote faster healing for a variety of injuries. Rather than rushing to your kitchen cupboard, look for medical grade honey for the best results. It is not widely available in normal supermarkets, so look for organic stores or Ayurvedic supplies providers. You can also easily find medicinal grade honey online.
   • Do not apply honey to broken skin or burns that are more severe than first degree burns.
   • The only exception is if you are a long way from a medical service. If you can't get treatment quickly, use an antibiotic ointment or honey on the burn to prevent infection while you wait for medical treatment.
6. Make calendula tea. Calendula is also known as marigold and is a useful herbal remedy for minor first degree burns. Simply scoop a teaspoon of calendula flowers into a cup of boiling water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Once it has been strained and cooled, you can soak the burned area in it or soak a cloth in the tea and then place it on the area. If you have calendula oil instead of petals, dissolve 1/2 to a whole teaspoon in 1/4 cup of water. You can buy calendula creams from organic stores or naturopathic practices. Apply calendula four times a day until the burn is healed.
   • Studies also show that green tea can be helpful in treating burns.
7. Soothe a burn with raw onion juice. Although the smell is unpleasant and can make your eyes water, onions are known to soothe burns. Slice some onion and rub it gently against the burn, working the juice into the wound without causing pain. Do this several times a day until the wound heals, making sure to use fresh onions every time.
8. Protect the burned area. When not using these treatments, you must protect damaged skin from infection. Pat the burned area dry, then cover it with clean gauze. Stick or wrap it in place and change the dressing daily until the skin looks normal. Check every day for signs of infection: fever, reddening of the skin, and pus. If you see such symptoms, notify your doctor immediately.

Warnings

• If you are unsure of the severity of the burn, always see a doctor to be on the safe side.