How to Treat Burns with Home Remedies

After an accident, and before applying any home remedy, it is important to rinse the burned area with plenty of cold water. You can leave it under a running tap or let the area soak in a container filled with water. This will help relieve some of the discomfort as well as clean the area before applying any natural treatments.

It is also fundamental to evaluate how severe your burn is, as only first degree burns can be treated at home; in more severe cases, we should immediately search for medical attention. If you're not sure about the degree, take a look at our article on how to know if you have a second degree burn.

Aloe vera is undoubtedly the king to treat burns with home remedies, as well as being good for skin problems because in addition to providing pain relief it also helps to regenerate the skin. This is due to the amount of nutrients it contains such as Vitamin C and E, which are both substances that are essential for the skin due to their emollient (vitamin E) and antioxidant (vitamin C) action.

Before using this aloe vera home remedy, wash the wound well letting the water run over it for a few minutes, dry it gently. Simply cut a leaf of the plant and apply the gel directly to the affected area. Let the aloe vera dry. The relief will be immediate. You can repeat this procedure twice a day for three days. Aloe vera can only be used in first degree injuries, as well as the rest of these natural remedies to heal burns.

It is also highly recommended for sunburn.

Onion is one of nature's most powerful antiseptics and it also helps moisturize the skin. Plus, it is at hand in the vast majority of homes. So, for a domestic burn, chop an onion in half and apply it to the area.

With this natural trick for domestic burns, you can reduce pain and, at the same time prevent blisters in the affected area.

Honey is another good antiseptic; if you have some at home, it is a great option for soothing and healing burns because, when applied to the affected area, it will extract fluids from the injured tissue. To heal a burn with honey, place honey on a gauze and cover the burn, change the bandage three to four times a day. Although it will leave the area a bit sticky, do try this as an alternative remedy. We recommend you cover this part of your body with a sterile gauze to avoid the honey from staining your clothes.

A popular way to treat burns with home remedies that's also easy to get hold of is the humble tomato. Its texture and properties make it an option that is at once refreshing and will help to naturally heal burns. This fruit - commonly considered a vegetable- has a big humidifying power, so it can also act as a healer and will improve the area where you burned yourself.

Potato is another powerful moisturizer that will help to get rid of the pain and promote the healing of the burn. This home remedy for burns is highly effective; the potato absorbs heat, relieves pain almost immediately and reduces discomfort. Cut a potato in half and apply it directly to the affected area. You'll notice an immediate effect.

It is one of the few essential oils that can be applied directly on the burn, giving a calming effect, in addition to reducing the risk of scarring. Place the lavender essential oil on a gauze and wrap the burn. Change gauze every two to three hours for two days.

The tannic acid from which black tea is made reduces the pain because it extracts the heat present in the burn. Boil three tea bags in a cup of water, wait for it to cool and cover the burn with the infusion, you can also place the tea bag over the burn and wrap it with a gauze.

Medicinal herbs are also great allies to treat burns. Plantain is used as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory and can be taken as a tea or placed as a poultice. Finely chop three fresh plantain leaves and the juice that comes out of it and apply it on the wound.

Take into account the following precautions to avoid further damage to the burn:

• Do not apply ice, butter, sprays or ointments on a third degree burn.
• Avoid blowing, coughing or breathing over the injury.
• If the burn is severe you should not take any medication until the specialist prescribes it.
• Do not touch the blisters that are produced.
• If your airways are affected, place a pillow under your head so you can breathe.

See the doctor!

If you notice that your burn is not improving and you have applied aloe vera gel at least three times to the skin, it is best to go to a specialist to prescribe topical medicine that acts faster on the skin and can offer relief to the symptoms. Other reasons to go to the doctor immediately are:

• If the pain increases or the burn becomes more swollen.
• If there is pus in the wound.
• If you have a fever or your temperature is low, as it could be a sign of hypothermia.
• If you have difficulty breathing.
• If the burn is on the face, neck or hands.

For a bad burn, particularly if it presents with blisters, it is best to seek medical assistance clinic because although these home remedies may relieve the discomfort somewhat, they will not be useful for second and third degree burns.

Tips for blisters

A few minutes after getting burned, a blister may appear. Some people question whether to prick, cut or bust it, however this is not recommended. Blisters act as a protective barrier against the entry of microorganisms into the wound, which is why you should try to cover it without oppressing it to prevent it from breaking. If that happens you must carefully remove the dead tissue, clean and disinfect the wound and cover it with a cotton gauze, but always without compressing the area.

On the other hand, there are some natural-based remedies that can relieve the symptoms and help you treat a blister due to a burn. The most recommended are:

• Marigold: this medicinal plant has soothing and healing properties, so it is very beneficial when healing blisters. The most practical is to use an ointment or any other product based on marigold, on sale at herbalists.
• Honey: This food is one of the most popular when it comes to calming minor burns at home, since it cleans, disinfects and cures the burned area. You can apply some honey in a gauze and place it on the blister, change it about three times a day for a better cure.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Treat Burns with Home Remedies, we recommend you visit our Family health category.