first aid

Milk is an excellent compress of minor burns. Simply soak the burned area in the milk for 15 minutes or so or apply a cloth soaked in milk to the affected area. The fat content in the milk soothes the burns and promotes healing.

After 24 hours or so, wash the burned area gently with soap and water daily. Keep the burn dry and clean and covered with bandage between washings.

Using too much of ice or extreme ice cold water can make the burn worse. Cool, not cold, water will stop the burning from spreading through your tissues and will act as a temporary painkiller.

Aloe Vera shortens the healing process. Two or three days after the burn, simply open a leaf and smear its liquid directly on the burn, the coolness of its “juice” brings welcome relief from the pain. Reapply four to six times daily, with or without a bandage covering.

Keep the burn covered. Cover a burn with loose gauze, not an adhesive bandage. Or try an over-the-counter product called Spenco Second Skin. It is a thin layer of synthetic material that can be applied over superficial burns. It is very soothing. Put one on your burn, and chill its replacement in the refrigerator. Why the fridge? Keeping the product could makes it more effective as a pain reliever. A bonus benefit to bandaging your burn is that you are less likely to bump it as a bandage reminds you that the burn is there

Eat plenty of citrus fruits, potatoes and broccoli that are rich in vitamin C as it helps in healing process for burns and other wounds.

You do not want to create burn scars from minor wounds. So, the first thing to remember is to never put ice on a burn. Apply cold running water to it as soon as possible, as this will probably limit the damage and ease the pain. Try to get it under cold water within 30 seconds. But icing the wound will result in permanent scarring.

Keep a cold, but not icy, compress on the wound to keep the pain down, and take a pain relief medication. The compress should keep the wound’s swelling to a minimum. If the compress and pain relievers do not control pain sufficiently, you may have to visit a doctor to obtain an application of local anesthetic.

After the immediate pain settles, apply a topical antibiotic. Then keep air away from the wound by loosely wrapping it with non-stick gauze bandages, never using cotton on the wound. Change the dressing twice a day, washing the wound with soap and water each time, patting dry, then applying more antibiotic and again wrapping with a sterile gauze bandage.

Partial thickness burns may also be treated in this way if the area affected is no more than a couple of inches in diameter. In the case of this type of burn, should blisters appear, leave them alone. Don’t open them. They are nature’s way of keeping the wound moist.

Wounds may take up to two years to heal fully. For at least a year, avoid injuring the area again and don’t expose it to radiation from the sun. Instead, use a sun block, for further exposure may lead to further change in pigmentation. Applying sun block and moistener to it regularly should limit the scarification and discoloration. But when the wound heals, there will still probably be some change in pigmentation of the skin.

Aloe Vera plant has a great quality of healing, so if its juice is applied on the affected area you can easily get relief from the burn.

When the burns start to heal, you can rub the liquid of vitamin E capsule to soothe the irritated skin. It would also prevent it from scarring.

Apply honey over the burns once it is cooled by running water or ice cubes.

Betel leaves absorbs heat which helps in the healing process. Crush betel leaves along with sugar to be applied on the burnt area.

To stop the burning sensation use cold water and vinegar compress till the pain subsides later apply potato slices. This would really work well on first degree burns.

You can apply toothpaste (any kind, except gel) on the burns. This kept overnight can give relief to the burns.

To remove scars spread egg white over the burnt area. Once the egg hardens roll it off. If need be continue it once more.

Apply nail-varnish on the burn to prevent infection and the constant pain. These can be good for first-degree and small burns.

When burnt, soak the area in cold milk or keep pouring milk on the burnt area. Once this is done rub raw vitamin E on the burn to have a quick healing process with minus scarring.

For minor burns mix together two tablespoons each of marsh mellow and comfrey root. Set this mixture on a low heat with one cup of olive oil and one cup of wine for 30 minutes. Cool and strain and apply this liquid on the burn to get relieve.