Let us all agree on the one common fact that burns of all kinds, does not matter how minor or severe it is, are particularly nasty and painful. While that may be the case, you may then find it interesting to know that burns are one of the most common household injuries.
Burns can be particularly painful, annoying and can give just about anyone a particularly tough time especially if it is during cooking or baking. Then there are the burns of a more serious nature that is caused by direct contact with a heated object or a fire. In the terminology of medicine, burns are classified according to their nature and severity.
Burns of the first degree kind are the ones which are less serious and severe (affecting only the outer layer of the skin) than the kinds of burns that are second degree and third degree. The latter two kinds of burns go into the deeper layers of the skin and can cause blisters and affect and damage all the layers of skin deep within.
Burns which are classified as third degree burns are severe enough to be considered a medical emergency and as such, should only be treated by a qualified professional in a controlled setting, such as a hospital. The milder kind of burns, of the lower severity variety, can be treated at home with some specific home remedies. It will usually take about two or three weeks for burns to heal if it is treated properly and in due time.
Below we will take a look at some of the most common remedies to treat burns that are not medical emergencies:
Cool Water
This is usually the first thing that our common sense tells us to do when we suffer a minor burn. This is a good idea. The basic and most common first aid procedure to follow after suffering a minor burn is to let cool water run over the area that has been burnt for a time of about 15 to 20 minutes. After this has been done, it is suggested that the area in question be washed with a bit of mild soap and water. Ointments should only be applied after this first step has been followed thoroughly.
To get even more relief, it is suggested to prepare a cold compress with a clean wet cloth and use it to cold compress the area that has been burnt. This will help the burn victim in dealing with the pain and swelling. The cold compress should be applied to the affected area within an interval of 10 to 15 minutes. It is important to note that ice water should never be used on burns. Ice water or ice has the ability to restrict blood from flowing to the affected area and this in turn can cause damage to the tissues.
Aloe Vera
This is another addition to the whole list of benefits that aloe vera has. This plant and its extracts can be used in the treatment of first-degree burns. The fact that this plant is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory makes it an excellent choice as a healer.
The plant and its extracts also have the added benefit of promoting circulation around the affected burnt area. This will prevent the chances of encountering infections in the areas that have been affected. To get the best out of this method, it is recommended to apply a whole layer of gel that is pure aloe-vera and has been extracted from the leaf of an aloe vera plant on the area that is affected.
If you are to use commercially available products made of aloe vera, you ought to make sure that the product has sufficient quantities of aloe vera in them.
Honey
Honey is yet another completely natural and readily available remedy for minor burns, along with its numerous other health benefits. Honey is a very useful thing in treating minor burns since it has excellent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
The idea is to take a cotton swab or a towel and then to dip it in a teaspoon of honey and then proceed to massaging gently to get the optimum results. While the proof has not been made concrete, honey does remain a popular choice for many households and homes when it comes to looking for a quick remedy for burns that are not too severe.
It is also an added advantage that the qualities and properties of honey also make it useful in reducing the burning sensation and the pain from burns.
Consider Light Therapy
Light therapy has quickly gained popularity and recognition with the health and fitness circles. It is a vastly popular method to treat different skin conditions. It is touted as being an excellent method of therapy that has numerous benefits while not giving the user any negative side effects at all.
Among its numerous uses, healing wounds is also a particular property that light therapy has and can thus be beneficial to anyone dealing with minor burns.
Red light therapy has properties that really make it well equipped to help with wound healing. It promotes the repair of tissues through methods that include increased fibroblast and collagen production as well and it also reduces inflammation. All of these properties make it very well suited to healing wounds.
If the therapy is performed on a consistent basis, wounds that are of the burn variety will heal at a faster rate.
In addition, the properties of red light therapy are such that it has been proven to be effective in reducing and repairing tissue that has been scarred. Scars from burns is a very common worry for burn victims. These scars can be healed much faster if the patient goes through regular red light therapy sessions.
