Have you ever had a burn on your lip area? In addition to being very painful and interfering with daily activities, the appearance of wounds will of course spoil your appearance. Fortunately, there are some tips you can apply to treat minor burns at home. If you accidentally burn your lips, start by cleaning the injured area and lowering the temperature to reduce the risk of infection. After that, continue to moisturize your lips and relieve pain with the help of over-the-counter gels and over-the-counter medications. As long as it's treated properly, lip burns should heal on their own within a week. However, if the intensity of the wound is severe enough, or if the condition of the wound feels worse, don't hesitate to immediately consult a doctor, OK!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Treating Burns Immediately
Step 1. See a doctor if the lips look blistered or if the color of the wound looks darker
Check the condition of the wound on your lips! If the wound looks red or slightly swollen, you most likely have a first-degree burn, which is the equivalent of a minor burn and can be treated at home. However, if the skin around the wound looks darkened and/or blistered, and if your lips feel numb, you most likely have a second or third degree burn, which of course should be treated by a medical professional immediately. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment!
- Do not squeeze the blisters to prevent the wound from becoming infected.
- Make sure you also check with your doctor if the burned area is inside your mouth.
Step 2. Clean the injured area with liquid soap or saline solution which acts as a natural disinfectant
After the lip is injured, immediately rinse it with warm or cold water to relieve the pain that appears. Then, clean the lips with liquid soap, or spray the injured area with a saline solution if the lips feel very sore from the soap. After that, rinse the soap or saline solution with warm water until the lips are completely clean.
- Chances are, the lips will feel a little sore when exposed to saline solution.
- Do not press or rub the lips with a movement that is too strong so that the wound does not feel more painful.
Step 3. Compress the lips with a clean, cool, damp cloth to reduce inflammation
First, wet a cloth or towel with cold water, then wring the cloth or towel to drain the excess water. Then, apply a cloth or towel to the injured area for 20 minutes or until the pain begins to subside. If the compress starts to warm up, re-wet the cloth or towel with cold water before applying it to your lips again.
- Do not compress the lips with a dirty cloth to avoid infection.
- Always keep your head higher than your heart to prevent the wound from swelling.
Warning:
Never compress a burn with ice so that the skin tissue behind it doesn't get damaged.
Step 4. Apply petroleum gel all over the lips to keep them moist
White petroleum gel is able to trap moisture and protect the injured lip area from infection. To use it, simply apply a thin layer of petroleum gel all over the lips, then leave it on for as long as needed until the benefits in it are well absorbed by the lips. If necessary, repeat the same process 2-3 times per day.
- White petroleum gel can be purchased at most pharmacies or health stores.
- White petroleum gel is actually safe if accidentally swallowed.
- Do not apply creams or ointments to areas of the lips that are badly injured so that the condition does not worsen.
Method 2 of 2: Treating Burned Lips
Step 1. Don't touch the lip area, if you don't really need to
Your touch will only increase the risk of infection and the intensity of the pain that appears. Therefore, do not do it and let the wound heal by itself. If you really need to touch your lips, don't forget to wash your hands beforehand to wash away the bad bacteria that are attached.
Do not smoke while the recovery process takes place so that the intensity of the pain does not increase
Step 2. Take painkillers to relieve the pain that appears
Some examples of pain relievers that can be purchased without a prescription at the pharmacy are ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and aspirin. However, make sure the drug is not consumed more than the recommended dose, yes! In addition, understand that the effects of most new drugs will be felt 30 minutes after taking them. If pain persists 6-8 hours later, take another dose of the drug.
- Follow the dosage recommendations listed on the medicine package, especially since most pain relievers should only be taken 4-5 times a day.
- If the injured area is very painful, immediately see a doctor to check the severity of the wound. If needed, your doctor can prescribe a higher dose of pain medication for you.
Step 3. Apply aloe vera gel to the injured lip area to relieve hot and burning sensations more quickly
Basically, aloe vera gel contains natural healing substances that can work very effectively to relieve pain from burns. The trick, simply apply aloe vera gel to the entire surface of the injured area, then let stand for a moment so that the gel is absorbed into the skin. Do this process 2-3 times a day if the area around the lips still feels sore or hot.
Do not apply aloe vera gel to a severe burn, unless authorized by a doctor
Warning:
Make sure you only use pure aloe vera gel, or one that doesn't contain any additives, to ensure safety when applied to the lip area.
Step 4. Consult a doctor if the symptoms do not improve, or even worsen
After about 1 week, recheck the condition of the wound on the glass to observe its condition. If the wound appears to be getting smaller, continue treating it in the same way until the wound is completely healed. However, if the shape and size do not change, or even get worse, immediately see a doctor to make sure there are no other problems that interfere with the healing process of the lips.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or pain medication, if needed
Step 5. Wear lip balm with SPF 50 if you have to go outside
Be careful, the hot sun can aggravate the intensity of the pain on the lips, worsen the damage to the skin, or even burn your skin. Therefore, always apply a thin layer of lip balm containing SPF (a substance to protect the skin from sun exposure) to the injured lip area. After 1-2 hours, reapply the same moisturizer to make sure the lips are always well protected.
- Wear a wide hat or umbrella to protect your sore lips from the sun.
- Don't have a lip balm that contains SPF? Try applying a sunscreen cream that doesn't contain harmful ingredients to your lips. In particular, look for a sunscreen cream that contains zinc oxide and is free of BPA, parabens, and fragrances. Some types of natural sunscreen creams also contain ingredients that can soothe the skin, such as aloe vera and sunflower oil.
Tips
- Always try to eat cold foods, especially as hot temperatures can increase the intensity of the pain.
- Most minor burns do not require additional medical treatment, as long as first aid is provided.
- Do not consume alcohol or foods that are too spicy during the recovery process, as both can increase the intensity of the pain.
- Continue to hydrate your body to speed up the wound healing process and prevent further skin damage.
- Prevent your lips from getting hurt again by wearing a hat that is wide enough and a lip balm with an SPF of at least 30 when you have to do activities in the sun. Follow the same protocol even if it's cloudy but windy, or when you're at high altitude, especially since both conditions can increase your risk of getting a burn on your lip.
Warning
- Do not apply cream or ointment to the injured area, unless instructed otherwise by your doctor.
- If blisters or swelling are very severe on the lips, or if the color of the wound looks very dark, immediately see a doctor because chances are, the intensity of your wound is quite severe.
- Do not compress the injured area with ice cubes so that the skin tissue behind it does not get damaged.
