Home Remedies for Burns

Whether you burn your hand on a pan of cookies, spend too much time in the sun, or spill hot coffee on your lap, burns are certainly not pleasant. Unfortunately, burns are one of the most common household injuries.Burnsare categorized by their severity. Afirst-degree burnis considered the least severe because it only affects the outer layer of skin. It usually only causes mild pain, redness, and swelling. Second-degree burns affect deeper layers of the skin and cause blisters and white, wet, and shiny skin. Third-degree burns involve damage to all layers of the skin, whilefourth-degree burns可能涉及关节和骨骼。第三层烧伤被认为是医疗紧急情况，只应该在医院治疗。您可以在家里的直径小于3英寸的大多数烧伤和二级烧伤。阅读以了解哪些补救措施最适合治愈皮肤，以及应该避免哪些补救措施。

Mild burns typically take around a week or two to completely heal and usually don’t cause scarring. The goal of burn treatment is to reduce pain, prevent infections, and heal the skin faster.

1. Cool water

The first thing you should do when you get a minor burn is run cool (not cold) water over the burn area for about 20 minutes. Then wash the burned area with mild soap and water.

2. Cool compresses

A cool compress or clean wet cloth placed over the burn area helps relieve pain and swelling. You can apply the compress in 5- to 15-minute intervals. Try not to use excessively cold compresses because they may irritate the burn more.

3. Antibiotic ointments

Antibiotic ointments and creams help prevent infections. Apply an antibacterial ointment like Bacitracin or Neosporin to your burn and cover with cling film or a sterile, non-fluffy dressing or cloth. Shop for Bacitracinand Neosporinonline.

4. Aloe vera

芦荟经常被吹捧为“植物燃烧。”Studiesshow evidence that aloe vera is effective in healing first- to second-degree burns. Aloe is anti-inflammatory, promotes circulation, and inhibits the growth of bacteria. Apply a layer of pure aloe vera gel taken from the leaf of an aloe vera plant directly to the affected area. If you buy aloe vera in a store, make sure it contains a high percentage of aloe vera. Avoid products that have additives, especially coloring and perfumes.

5. Honey

Honey just got sweeter. Apart from its delicious taste, honey may help heal a minor burn when applied topically. Honey is an anti-inflammatory and naturally antibacterial and antifungal.

6. Reducing sun exposure

Do your best to avoid exposing the burn to direct sunlight. The burned skin will be very sensitive to the sun. Keep it covered with clothing.

7. Don’t pop your blisters

As tempting as it may be, leave your blisters alone. Bursting a blister yourself can lead to infection. If you’re worried about blisters that have formed due to your burn, see a medical professional.

8. Take an OTC pain reliever

If you have pain, take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). Be sure to read the label for the correct dosage.

Bizarre home remedies and old wives’ tales for treating burns are widespread, but not everything your grandma tells you to do is good for you. The following common home burn remedies should be avoided:

1. Butter

不要在燃烧中使用黄油。几乎没有证据表明黄油作为烧伤补救措施的有效性。最重要的是，它可能实际上让你的燃烧更糟糕。黄油保留了热量，也可能是含有可能感染烧伤皮肤的有害细菌。为你的面包拯救你的黄油。

2. Oils

Contrary to popular belief, coconut oil doesn’t heal everything. For the same reason why you shouldn’t apply butter to your burns, oils, such as coconut oil, olive oil, and cooking oils, hold heat in and can even cause the skin to continue to burn. Lavender oil is reported to help heal burns, but there’s little published evidence to support this claim. Studies conducted in rats, for example, haven’t shown any benefit of using lavender oil to heal a burn.

3. Egg whites

Another folktale, uncooked egg whites carry a risk of bacterial infection and shouldn’t be placed on a burn. Eggs can also cause an allergic reaction.

4.牙膏

Never apply toothpaste to a burn. This is another folktale with no evidence to back it up. Toothpaste could irritate the burn and create a more favorable environment for infection. Plus, it isn’t sterile.

5. Ice

Ice and very cold water can actually irritate your burn area more. Ice may even cause a cold burn if used improperly.

It’s important to recognize when a burn can be treated at home and when you need to seek medical care. You should seek help from a doctor if:

• a burn affects a widespread area more than 3 inches in diameter
• the burn includes the face, hands, buttocks, or groin area
• the wound becomes painful or smelly
• you develop a high temperature
• you think you have a third-degree burn
• if your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago

Third-degree burns should never be treated at home. They carry the risk of serious complications, including infections, blood loss, and shock. Often referred to as a “full-thickness burn,” a third-degree burn reaches underlying tissues and can even damage the nerves. Symptoms of third-degree burn include:

• waxy, white-colored skin
• char
• dark brown color
• raised and leathery texture

Burns caused by anelectrical shockare also too risky for home treatment. These burns often reach layers under the skin and can even cause damage to internal tissues. The internal damage may be worse than you expect. Don’t take your chances. Call 911 right away.Read this article in Spanish.