Skin Burns: Types, Natural Treatments and Prevention

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There are times that clumsiness or not being careful of what we are doing will cause some accidents like skin burns, whether it is minor or major.

Skin burn is damage to the tissues of the body. There are various causes of burns in the form of chemicals, heat, radiation, and electricity.

Burns can inflict blisters, swelling, scarring, and shock. In this context, it is important to note that in severe cases, burns can give rise to shock which eventually leads to death.

Burns can also give rise to severe infections as they affect the protective layer of the skin. This gives rise to the invasion of microbes in the surface.

Types of Skin Burns

There exist various degrees of burns that one should take into consideration if they want to treat it properly. They are as follows:

Burns of First Degree: These types of burns also refer to mild burns. They usually result in the reddening and pain of the outer layer of the skin which is the epidermis of the skin.

Burns of Second Degree: It also refers to the fractional wideness burns. It is that kind of a burn which usually affects the epidermis and dermis layer of the skin.

The dermis is the layer of the skin. They are responsible for redness, pain, blistering and swelling of the skin.

Burns of Third Degree: It refers to the total thickness burns. It goes through the layer of the layer of the dermis and also affects the underlying tissues. They inflict massive injury to the skin of the affected persons. They create white, blackened and burned skin that usually gives a numb sensation.

Natural Treatments

Cold Application

Immediately after the burn, pour cold water over the wound to cleanse it, reduce swelling and reduce pain. Twenty minutes is long enough to cool the wound until residual heat no longer damages under-lying tissue. Sterile water is best, but cold tap water will do. Do not use ice. If the area gets red and swollen, ask a doctor to examine it.

Honey

In studies of quick and easy treatments to soothe mild burns, scientists have found that honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may promote healing. One study in 2006, examining results of more than a dozen previous studies, found that small, nonserious burns healed faster when treated with gauze and a dash of honey, on average, than those treated with antibiotic creams and other dressings. A separate report published earlier found similar results.

Tea

If you’ve burned yourself in the kitchen, help is close by. Researchers at UCLA found that the tannins found in tea can soothe burns in as little as five minutes. After rinsing and cleaning a minor burn, place a cool, wet teabag directly on the area for relief.

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel may very well be the crown jewel of skin-soothing treatments for damaged skin. And for good reason: Numerous studies have provided evidence that it can heal the minor burns and scrapes that a harsh world can inflict on sensitive skin. Scientists suspect that has to do with the gel’s anti-inflammatory properties.

One published in the journal Burns in 2007 looked at data from four different studies that included a total of 371 patients with various types of wounds and burns. The authors stopped short of recommending aloe vera gel for all burn and wound healing. “However,” the authors stated, “cumulative evidence tends to support that aloe vera might be an effective intervention used in burn wound healing for first to second degree burns.”

Oils

There are certain oils that can be effective to treat skin burns such as, castor oil is one of the safest oils to be used when it comes to skin burns of any kind due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Also lavender oil promote skin healing while frankincense oil decrease tissue scarring, then, tea tree oil cuts the chance of skin infections while peppermint oil helps relieve the pain from the burn.

Prevention

-According to WHO, there are a number of specific recommendations for individuals, communities and public health officials to reduce burn risk.
-Enclose fires and limit the height of open flames in domestic environments.
-Promote safer cookstoves and less hazardous fuels, and educate regarding loose clothing.
-Apply safety regulations to housing designs and materials, and encourage home inspections.
-Improve the design of cookstoves, particularly with regard to stability and prevention of access by children.
-Lower the temperature in hot water taps.
-Promote fire safety education and the use of smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, and fire-escape systems in homes.
-Promote the introduction of and compliance with industrial safety regulations, and the use of fire-retardant fabrics for children’s sleepwear.
-Avoid smoking in bed and encourage the use of child-resistant lighters.
-Promote legislation mandating the production of fire-safe cigarettes.
-Improve treatment of epilepsy, particularly in developing countries.
-Encourage further development of burn-care systems, including the training of health-care providers in the appropriate triage and management of people with burns.
-Support the development and distribution of fire-retardant aprons to be used while cooking around an open flame or kerosene stove.

However, the treatment for burns depends on the cause of burns. There are cases that can be life-threatening. In recent years, with the emergence of advanced antibiotic creams to treat burn injuries, managing them has become much more comfortable. But if that is only minor cases, there are natural treatment that you can rely on which are mentioned above. Thus if it is turn into severe cases, it is worth to see doctor immediately.

Source: Wellnessbin