Home Remedies for Burns

A skin burn is a condition of the skin, characterized by skin damage due to exposure to excessive heat or fire. Depending upon the severity of damage that they cause to the skin, burns have been categorized into minor burns, first degree burns, second degree burns and third degree burns. Third degree burns are the most severe and require immediate and high level of medical attention and treatment or else it can also result in death. Second degree burns are a little less severe than third degree burns and cause damage to the inner layers of the skin. Second degree burn is characterized by sore blisters that are swollen and painful as well.

First degree burns cause damage to the top layer of the skin and are relatively less painful. They can be treated using first aid like topical creams and ointments and also some home remedies for burns. Burns are caused due to exposure to fire, electric shock, chemicals coming in contact with the skin, radiation or even due to exposure of the skin to direct sunlight, for a long time.

Home Remedies for First Degree Burns

• Soaking the burned area in cold milk or cold water is a good home remedy to treat burns. This will also prevent the burned area from forming blisters or pus boils. Use cold water and not ice water, as ice water can worsen the burn.
• Rub vitamin E oil on the burn and consume vitamin A and vitamin E capsules, to heal the burn quickly.
• Applying egg whites on the burn will help soothe and heal it.
• Apply onion to the burn as soon as it happens to relieve the pain.
• Prepare cotton ash paste by burning cotton wool and mixing the ashes with olive oil. Make a thick paste and apply it to the burn. It will heal quickly.
• Apply diluted vinegar on the burned area to soothe the pain and relieve the burning sensation.
• Apply just honey to the burn or mix it with olive oil and apply to the burn after washing it with cool water.
• To relieve the itching that occurs in the process of healing the burn, soak the burned area in a tub of lukewarm water and oatmeal.
• Mouth burns can be relieved by rinsing with a solution of salt or by holding a mouthful of sugar on the burned area in the mouth.
• The best home remedy to heal sunburn is to soak yourself in a bath tub filled with cold water or to hold an ice compress to the burned area.

Home Remedies for Chemical Burns

• To treat chemical burns, make a compress of a mixture of cold water and vinegar and hold it to the burned area until the pain subsides.
• Keep the burn clean and dry. Do not let it come in contact with moisture.
• Applying Aloe Vera gel can be of immense help in healing chemical burns.
• Apply butter or margarine to the burned area to soothe the skin.
• Applying a paste of yellow mustard will also help. Wash it off once the paste dries.
• If the burn is too painful, applying colloidal silver can help cure the burn and relieve the pain.
• Prepare a decoction by boiling together mint leaves, a few tea bags and water. Strain the liquid obtained from this mixture and allow it to cool in the refrigerator. Dab this onto the burned area and allow it to dry and then wash it off.
• Applying lavender essential oil and calendula infused oil are very good herbal remedies for burns.

As mentioned before, these home remedies for burns should be used only for first degree burns and burns milder than that. For higher degree burns, medical assistance is advised.