Content

• Steps
• Advice

Burns are a common skin injury and can cause severe pain. Aloe vera can be used to treat minor first and second degree burns. Before using aloe, you need to wash the wound and assess the extent of the burn. Aloe vera can be applied if it is minor, but seek medical attention for severe burns, burns that pose a risk of infection, and burns that do not heal.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: First aid for wounds

1. 

   Avoid sources of burns. Move away from the source of the burn as soon as you know you have been burned. If you get burned by electrical equipment, turn off the device immediately and keep away. If you have a chemical burn, leave the area immediately. If you get a sunburn, get out of the sun as quickly as possible.
   • If the clothing has chemicals or is burnt, take it off carefully so it doesn't hurt the wound. Do not remove clothing if it gets on the burned skin; Call emergency services or seek urgent medical care.

2. 

   
   
   Determine the severity of the burn. There are 3 levels of burns. Before treating a burn, you need to know how to distinguish burns. Grade 1 burns affect only the outermost layer of the skin, often red, which can be painful and dry to the touch. Second degree burns reach deeper layers of the skin that may appear "wet" or discolored, often with white, painful blisters. Grade 3 burns affect all layers of the skin, sometimes affecting surrounding tissues. On the surface, these burns appear dry and chewy, black, white, brown or yellow at the site of the burn. 3rd degree burns are often swollen and extremely severe, although they may not be as painful as milder burns from damaged nerve endings.
   • Continue self-treatment only if you know you have only had a minor or minor burn. This treatment of burns is not for other cases, unless authorized by your doctor.
   • You should never use aloe to treat 3rd degree burns or open wounds. Aloe vera does not allow the wound to dry, and this prevents the burn from healing.

3. 

   
   
   Cool the wound. Once you've assessed the wound's condition and been away from a dangerous situation, you can begin to cool the wound. This step will draw heat away from the wound and soothe the skin before applying the aloe vera. Let cold water run over the wound for 10-15 minutes immediately after the burn.
   • If you can't use a tap or shower, soak a cloth in cold water and apply it to the burn for 20 minutes. Replace the cold water-dipped cloth when the old one begins to cool.
   • If possible, soak the burned area in cool water for at least 5 minutes. You can soak it in a sink or bowl of cool water.

4. 

   
   
   Sponge. You need to clean the wound after it has cooled. Rub soap into your hands, then gently rub the burned area to wash it off. Rinse with cool water to remove soap bubbles. Pat dry with a towel.
   • Do not rub the wound if this causes further irritation or tearing of the skin from sensitivity or if blisters begin to appear.
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Part 2 of 3: Treatment of burns with aloe

1. 

   Cut the aloe leaves from the plant. You can use fresh aloe if you have an aloe plant in your home or if there is an aloe plant near where you were burned. Cut a few plump leaves near the base of the plant and cut off the thorns on the leaves to avoid stabbing. Use a knife to cut along the middle of the leaf, cut the inside of the leaf to get the aloe vera gel and place in a bowl.
   • Continue doing so until you have taken enough aloe to cover the burn.

   Advice: The aloe plant is easy to grow. They can live indoors in nearly any climatic zone and outdoors in warm climates. You should water the plant every two days, and remember not to over water it. The lateral buds of the aloe can be easily planted into new plants.
   

2. 

   Use store-bought aloe. If the aloe plant is not available, you can use an aloe gel or cream.This product is available in most drugstores and supermarkets. When buying aloe vera cream or gel, choose 100% pure or as close as possible. The amount of aloe in products may vary; you should choose the one with the highest percentage of aloe vera.
   • See the product's ingredients. Some products say "made from pure aloe vera gel" but only 10% of the aloe vera.

3. 

   Apply a lot of aloe to the burn. Take a large amount of fresh aloe vera or aloe vera gel onto the palm of your hand and gently rub it over the burned area, making sure not to rub it vigorously. Apply 2-3 times per day until the pain is gone.
   • After applying aloe vera, you only have to cover it if the wound is likely to be rubbed or hurt without a protective layer. In this case, use a clean, non-stick dressing or gauze when removing it.

4. 

   Soak in the aloe bath. If you want to use other therapies instead of simply applying aloe vera gel, you can take a dip in the aloe bath. Boil some aloe leaves in water if you have fresh aloe leaves. Take out the aloe leaves and pour the aloe vera leaf juice (which may now turn brown) into the tub. If you have aloe vera gel, add a large amount of the gel to the water when you fill the tub with water. Soak in warm aloe vera water for about 20 minutes to soothe the burn.
   • There are aloe vera bubble baths available, but these products are not recommended for burn users as they may contain other chemicals that can dry out the skin instead of moisturizing the skin.
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Part 3 of 3: When to Seek Medical Care

1. 

   See a doctor if the burn is large and severe, or if the burn is in a sensitive area. These burns should be taken care of by a medical professional. The wound may become infected or scar if you try to treat it yourself. In general, you should see a doctor for the following:
   • Burns are on the face, hands, feet, genitals or joints.
   • The burn is larger than 5 cm wide.
   • Grade 3 burns.

   Advice: If you are not sure if the burn is in degree 1 or degree 2, you should call your doctor. If you think the burn is not degree 1, see your doctor. Grade 2 and 3 burns can be life-threatening if not treated properly.

2. Seek medical attention if the burn shows signs of infection or scar formation. Burns can become infected, even with treatment. Fortunately, the doctor can prescribe medication to treat the infection, such as an antibiotic or a medicated cream. Signs of infection include:
   • Pus oozing from the burn
   • Red skin around the burn
   • Swelling
   • Pain levels increased
   • Scar formation
   • Fever
3. See a doctor if the burn does not go away after a week. The burn may take weeks to heal, but you should see improvement after about a week with home remedies. If the burn does not go away, you may need medical attention. Your doctor can evaluate the wound and recommend additional treatments.
   • Track the burn by taking pictures or measuring it daily.
4. Ask about burn and pain relief creams if needed. Your doctor may prescribe burn ointments or creams to shorten recovery time. Burns creams or ointments will prevent infection and keep the gauze from sticking to the wound. In addition, your doctor may prescribe pain relievers to help you cope with the pain as it heals.
   • Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
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Advice

• You also need to seek medical attention if the burn is large or on the face.
• Sunburns are very sensitive to the sun even after they have healed. You should increase the use of sunscreen for 6 months after the burn to avoid discoloration and further damage.
• Never use a sunburned aloe vera gel or leaf to apply to a sunburn, as it can cause a rash and small blisters that make the wound even more painful. If you accidentally used aloe leaves from a sunburn and are experiencing a rash, you can look for healthy aloe leaves to get gel to heal sunburns and rashes. You can google the aloe vera signs of sunburn or how to identify a healthy aloe plant to distinguish.
• Do not apply household ingredients such as butter, flour, oil, onions, toothpaste, or moisturizing lotions to the burn. These can make the wound worse.
• See a doctor right away if you suspect the burn is more than a degree 1. Severe burns need medical treatment and cannot be treated at home.
• Second degree burns with bloody blisters can turn into third degree burns and require medical treatment.
• Take ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce swelling in the tissues and relieve pain.
• Never apply ice to the burn. Extremely cold temperatures can further damage the skin.