Taking Care Of Burns The Right Way
Sometimes the simplest of issues can turn into something more serious if not handled properly. The same can be said for common ailments like fever, cuts, burns etc.
In the case of burns, the issues arise when we don’t know how to deal with them in a proper manner. And most of the times, we make things worse by not taking care of them properly.
Need to Know Fact about Burns:
The most common terms associated with burns are those wounds that are caused on the body due to fire or other ‘very hot’ things. However, burns can be caused by many other ways. For example, electrocution by electrical appliances or live wires; exposure to certain chemicals or staying under the sun too long can also cause burns in the body.
Taking Care of Burns Properly:
We need to take proper care of burns in order to prevent infections and other after effects later on. Even though there are standard medications to take care of them, immediate and effective treatment is required in order to control the wound and the pain. Here are a few tips you can follow for that.
First Step:
The first thing you need to do if you get affected by a burn is to control the temperature of the area that is affected. Cold water is the best immediate remedy for a burn, and you can keep the affected area under water for about 20 minutes until the pain decreases. You can also pour ice water on the affected area. Do not try to remove any clothing stuck to the wound though.
Effective Home Remedies:
Even though you may require medical help for a burn, treating the area immediately with some kind of remedy would help you to control the pain. Here are some effective remedies you can follow for treating burns.
Honey, Vinegar or Milk:
Honey is one of the best natural remedies for burns and helps them to heal faster, along with preventing infections and scars. Diluted vinegar is also useful in treating burns and helps to control pain and blisters.
Whole milk also helps in controlling burns and if you dip a piece of cloth in whole milk and wrap it around the affected area, the pain will decrease immediately.
Aloe Vera, Papaya and Vitamin E:
Aloe Vera leaves can be grinded to form a paste and then can be applied over the affected area. Raw aloe vera leaves can also be used. Once the wound starts healing, you can add apply papaya juice to it in order to remove dead cells. You can also use Vitamin E capsules (break the capsule and pour the liquid on the affected area) to prevent scarring due to burns.
Toothpaste:
Toothpaste can be applied to minor burns. But make sure that the wound is not an open one. When applied on the affected area, the toothpaste cools the wound and prevents it from worsening.
Cotton Ash Paste:
This remedy is very useful in controlling the pain and shock of burns. All you need to do is burn a piece of cotton wool or fabric in a metal pot. Remove the ash from the pot and apply olive oil to it. Form a paste and apply it to the affected area and cover it with a bandage. Continue applying fresh paste to the burn until the pain stops.
Egg Whites:
If you have eggs in your home, then you can use them to treat both minor and major burns. Soak the affected area in egg whites for about 20 minutes. You can also apply egg whites to the affected area and reapply the same when the pain comes back. Egg whites also help to prevent infections and scars.
Mushrooms:
Raw mushrooms are very effective in controlling the pain and blisters caused by burns. All you need to do is cut a few slices of mushroom, apply them over the affected area, cover the area with a bandage and keep it overnight. The next day, you will be surprised to find out that there are no blisters or infections, including no pain from the wound as well.
Some other well known remedies for burns include lavendar oil, chlorine bleach, mustard, onions, mayonase, oil with salt, turmeric, plantain leaves, colloidal silver, baking soda, aluminium foil, vanilla extract, alcohol, and apple cider vinegar.
Medical Attention:
It is important to note that third degree burns are very dangerous wounds that need to be taken care of by a doctor. A doctor would also be the best person to take care of the burns caused in the major areas of the body like feet, eyes, joints, head or genitilia etc. And even though you might be able to give immediate treatment to a burn, it is considered wise to check with a doctor for further treatments and medications.
Recovering from burns:
Once you have treated the affected area with an appropriate remedy and have checked with the doctor as well, make sure that you take the necessary steps to keep the area free from infections.
In addition to taking medications and applying ointments to the burn, you need to know that a good diet would be helpful in the healing process. Doctors recommend protein and calorie rich diets for patients recovering from burns.
These diets help the wound heal faster and substitute the copper, zinc, selenium and other micro nutrients that were lost from the skin due to the burn. You can also eat foods rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B complex, Arginine and Glutamine in order to speed up the healing process.
Never keep the wound open as it may lead to infections. Even if you clean the wound everyday, make sure to keep it wrapped up in a bandage until it closes. Avoid applying any kind of lotions over the affected area. The particles present in lotions clog up the skin pores and slow down the healing process.
How to notice infections:
Burns easily contract infections and an infected wound is very hard to heal. There are some symptoms that can help you find out if the wound is getting infected. These include color change in the wound or nearby area, swelling, greenish discharge from the wound, generation of pus, and fever. In case you notice any of these symptoms, rush to a doctor for advice and further treatment.
Photo Credit- Ccmag2.com
