What Are Skin Burns?
Burns – a household injury that is very common, especially in children, are characterized by skin damage that is so severe that it causes the skin cells affected by the burn to die. Depending on the degree of the burn, they can range from light burns that can be treated relatively easy and have no long term consequences, to those that require immediate medical care to prevent any long term problems, or even death in extreme cases.
Types Of Skin Burns
Burns are measured in four degrees, with the first one being the least serious and it is characterized by a reddish skin that is not blistered. Second-degree burns cause blisters, and the skin to thicken slightly. Next, third-degree burns cause the skin to have a leathery and white appearance, while fourth-degree burns have all the symptoms of third-degree burns; however, the damage extends to the bones and tendons.
Burns can be caused by spilled hot liquids, chemical burns, electrical burns, excessive sun exposure, and fires. You can use home remedies for second-degree burns, but anything more than that requires immediate medical attention.However, if in doubt, or you develop further symptoms, always seek medical advice.
So, how to treat burns?
Best Home Remedies For Burns
In cases where the immediate medical attention isn’t required, Ora’s All Purpose Salve helps enormously.
It contains cedar leaf, tea tree, rosemary antimicrobial essential oils, vitis vinifera, calendula, plantain, and comfrey. Many ointments tend to have a horrible smell and can be almost unbearable, but Ora’s All Purpose Salve has a soft fragrance. It can also aid healing for extremely dry skin and scabies,as well as spots.
Apply this in a thin layer, being careful not to rub too harshly.
How To Treat Skin Burns
If you or someone around you has been burned, it is very important that you know how to offer first aid and are aware of the best course of action immediately after they receive the injury. Make sure you always have a high-quality fully stocked first aid kit on hand.
The victim will be in pain, and potentially in a state of shock. Make sure to calm and reassure them, whilst acting quickly to mitigate any damage. Check if any clothing is stuck to the burn. If not, remove the clothing. When burns are caused by chemicals, make sure to remove all the clothing that has absorbed the chemical.
The most important step in actually treating the burn is to cool it. However, it cannot be stressed enough to never use ice on the burn, as severe cold damages the already affected tissue even more. Instead, apply cold water to the burn and if possible, keep the burn under running water for several minutes. This will soothe the pain.
The next step is checking the burn to make sure it is only a minor one. In case the burn is deep and appears large (i.e. over 5 cm2), make sure to get urgent medical attention.
However, if the burn is minor, take the following steps:
- Sanitize the burn – you should make sure the burn is clean by washing it with soap and water very gently, in order to not further damage the tissue.
- Be careful around the blisters – never break or pop blisters. A popped blister is an open wound and can easily get infected.
- Treat the burn – at this stage, you can apply a thin layer of a medical ointment to the burn. Avoid ointments that contain antibiotics, and never use cortisone ointments on the burn.
- Protect the burn – make sure the burnt tissue is protected from rubbing by wrapping a sterile non-stick gauze to it. It’s important to use only this type of gauze as it does not shed fibers tha could interfere with the burn. Change the gauze once a day.
- Alleviate the pain – even first-degree burns can come with quite a lot of pain. You can use over-the-counter painkillers to treat the pain.
To make sure you’re treating your burn correctly, discover some more tips on dealing with skin burns here. If in any doubt, seek advice from a medical professional.
