Heal a burn on your lips

Video: Burns | How To Treat Burns | How To Treat A Burn

Content

To step
Method 1 of 2: Treat the burn immediately
Method 2 of 2: Take care of your burnt lips
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

Burns on your lips can be painful and difficult to treat. Still, there are ways you can treat minor burns yourself. If you accidentally got a burn, start by cleaning it and letting it cool down to reduce the risk of infection. After the initial care, continue to moisturize your lips and relieve pain with over-the-counter medications and gels. As long as you treat the burn properly, it will disappear in about a week. Contact your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if you have severe burns or if they get worse.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Treat the burn immediately

If you have blisters or if the burn looks dark, see your doctor. Check the burn so you can see what it looks like. If it's red or slightly swollen, you probably have a first degree burn that you can easily treat yourself. On the other hand, if the skin is dark, you have blisters or no feeling in your lips, it could be a second or third degree burn and you need medical attention. See your doctor as soon as possible so that you can get the right treatment.
- Try not to prick blisters yourself, as they will get infected more quickly.
- You should also see a doctor if you have burned the inside of your mouth.
Clean the burn with liquid soap or saline solution to disinfect it. Immediately rinse the burn with lukewarm or cold water to relieve some of the pain. Wash your lips gently with liquid soap to clean them. You can also spray the burn with saline solution if it is painful to apply soap. Rinse off the soap or saline solution with lukewarm water.
- The saline solution may sting slightly when you apply it.
- Don't apply too much pressure when you wash with soap or it can hurt even more.
Keep a cool and damp cloth on your lip to reduce inflammation. Wet a clean washcloth with cold water and squeeze out the excess water. Hold the compress directly against your burnt lips and keep it there for up to 20 minutes to relieve the pain. When the compress heats up, wet it again with cold water and then put it back on your lips.
- Do not use a dirty cloth as this can increase the chance of infection.
- Try to keep your head upright as much as possible to prevent the burn from swelling.
Warning: Never put ice on your burn, as this can cause more damage to the skin tissue.
Spread white petroleum jelly on your lips to keep them hydrated. White petroleum jelly retains moisture and can protect the burn from infection. Gently spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly on your lips, making sure to completely cover the burn. Leave the petroleum jelly on your lips for as long as necessary and reapply it up to two to three times a day.
- You can buy white petroleum jelly from the drugstore or pharmacy.
- There is no harm in consuming white petroleum jelly, so don't worry if you accidentally swallow some of it.
- Do not apply creams or ointments on severe burns as they can make the wounds worse.

Method 2 of 2: Take care of your burnt lips

Don't touch your lips if you don't have to. Touching the burn on your lips makes it more prone to infection and can cause pain. Leave the burn alone so it has time to heal on its own. If you do need to touch your lips, wash your hands thoroughly beforehand to remove any bacteria.
- Do not smoke while the burns are healing, as this can cause more pain.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers to ease the burn. Take ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or aspirin to relieve any pain. Only take the dose recommended on the medicine package and wait about 30 minutes to feel the effects. If you still feel pain after six to eight hours, take another dose of pain medication.
- Follow the dosage instructions on the drug packaging, as many recommend taking only four to five a day.
- If you feel severe pain from the burn, contact your doctor so he or she can check the severity of the burn and possibly prescribe stronger painkillers.
Apply aloe vera gel to the burn to relieve the burning sensation. Aloe vera gel has healing properties and can effectively relieve pain from burns. Spread a thin layer of aloe vera gel on your lips until you cover the entire burn. Allow the aloe to soak in and absorb into your skin to treat the burn. Reapply the aloe two to three times a day if you still feel pain or warmth around your lips.
- Do not use aloe vera gel for severe burns unless you have your doctor's approval first.
Warning: Make sure there are no additives in the aloe vera gel or it may not be safe for use on your mouth.
See your doctor if your symptoms don't improve or if they get worse. After about a week, check your burn in a mirror to see how much it has healed. If the burn appears smaller, continue the same treatment until it disappears. If it still looks the same or feels worse than before, let your doctor know so he can check if anything else is affecting treatment.
- Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics or painkillers, depending on what he or she finds during your appointment.
Use SPF 50 lip balm if you plan on going out in the sun. If you go out in the sun, the heat can cause pain, aggravate the damage to your skin, or cause sunburn. Reapply the lip balm after one or two hours in the sun so that your lips are continuously protected.
- Wear a hat or use an umbrella to keep your lips out of the sun if you're still in pain.
- If you don't have a sunscreen lip balm, apply natural sunscreen to your lips. Look for a zinc oxide-based sunscreen without BPA, parabens, and fragrance. Some natural sunscreens also contain soothing botanicals, such as aloe vera and sunflower oil.

Tips

Especially try to eat cold foods if you can, as heat makes the burn more painful.
Many minor burns do not require additional treatment after initial treatment.
Do not take spicy foods or alcohol while the burn is healing, as it can cause more pain.
Stay hydrated as much as possible to promote healing and prevent skin damage.
Prevent future lip burns by shading your face with a wide-brimmed hat and wearing a lip balm with a sun protection factor of at least 30 while spending time in the sun. Take extra care when you are in a cloudy but windy environment or at a high altitude, as you have a higher risk of lip burn in these conditions.

Warnings

Do not apply creams or ointments on severe burns unless directed by a doctor.
If you have severe lip swelling or blisters on your lips, or if the burn looks dark, see a doctor immediately as the burn can be severe.
Don't put ice on the burn, as this can cause more damage to your skin.