It’s good to know that you can quickly alleviate first-degree and second-degree burns (smaller than three inches in diameter) at home using the right remedies.
These cures can relieve pain and discomfort by reducing inflammation and speeding up the process of healing.
Having burns is always painful and they often happen in households. The first-degree ones are the least serious because the burned area is only the outer layer of the skin. But, it’s still red, painful, and swollen.
Second-degree burns occur on the skin’s deeper layers and result in blisters and wet, shiny, and white skin. The third-degree ones are serious and they include damage to all skin layers. The fourth-degree ones may include the bones and joints.
Third- and fourth-degree burns need to be treated in a hospital because they’re a medical emergency.
In case of a first-degree or second-degree burn, you can try healing them with some of the best remedies for that purpose. Check them out below.
5 Top Natural Remedies to Alleviate First- and Second-Degree Burns at Home
- Aloe vera
Aloe vera gel has long been used to treat skin problems. Nowadays, it’s the go-to for a long list of skin-related problems such as rashes, psoriasis, burns, acne, and skin abrasions.
And, research backs up its ability to heal wounds thanks to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antiviral characteristics.
You can purchase aloe vera gel for topical application in pharmacies or health stores. If you have an aloe plant at home, you can cut off a section and extract the gel from the inside and apply it directly.
To prevent an allergic reaction, always test a small amount of the gel on a part of the body. Often, people with allergies to onion, tulip, and allergies are more prone to allergies to aloe.
- Oatmeal
Oatmeal’s use for skin problems dates back to 2000 BC in Arabia and Egypt, although it wasn’t researched scientifically until the 1930s.
Colloidal oatmeal is a powdered form of oats that the FDA recognizes as a safe OTC for irritated and itchy skin. It may help relieve minor burns, and rashes, as well as skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema.
Oatmeal is rich in anti-inflammatories and linoleic acid boosts the repair of the skin while lactic acid moisturizes. The two best ways of topical application are an oatmeal bath and an oatmeal poultice.
When choosing oatmeal for this purpose, choose the colloidal one. This is a finely ground oatmeal that you can purchase ready or prepare at home by grinding oatmeal in a food processor or a blender to create a floury texture.
To prepare an oatmeal bath, add half a cup of colloidal oatmeal in warm bath water. Immerse the whole body and soak for half an hour.
For a poultice, combine ¼ cup of colloidal oatmeal and water to make a paste. Apply the paste onto the painful area and cover it with a moist cloth.
Remove it after half an hour and rinse the area and moisturize the skin.
- Honey
In addition to being tasty, honey is also a great topical reliever of inflammation. It also possesses antibacterial and antifungal characteristics.
It’s long been used for the treatment of wounds and it may be of aid for first- and second-degree burns. Avoid using any type of honey on your wounds and burns.
Opt for medical grade only which has been sterilized and standardized. Dress the burn or wound with medical-grade honey applied onto the gauze.
Reapply daily for optimal effect, several times per day.
- Cool water
Cool water is the best first aid for minor household burns.
If you accidentally burned yourself, run the burn under cool water for 20 minutes. Then, rinse the area with water and mild soap.
- Cool compress
Once you’ve rinsed the burn with cool water, you can apply a cool compress. For this, you need a clean and wet cloth applied to the burn.
Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat several times, but don’t exaggerate because this may backfire and irritate the already irritated skin.
Sources:
