Burns are common injuries to the skin of varying severity. Burns can be caused by electricity, heat, sunlight, radiation, and friction. Since ancient times, aloe vera has been used to treat skin wounds and reduce inflammation. Aloe vera is used and recommended by doctors to treat minor first degree burns and can be used for some second degree burns. If you have a burn, follow these steps to find out how severe the burn is and treat it with aloe vera.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Dealing with Wounds
Step 1. Avoid the cause of the burn
Whenever you get burned, you should stay away from the cause of the burn. If the cause is an electronic device, turn off the appliance and keep the skin away from the appliance. If chemical burns, stay away from chemical spill as soon as possible. If you get sunburned, stay out of the sun immediately.
If your clothes come in contact with chemicals or catch fire, remove them carefully without hurting the wound. Do not pull clothing away from the skin if it sticks to the burned area; call emergency services or seek medical attention immediately
Step 2. Determine the severity of the burn
There are three levels of burns. Before treating, know the difference between burns. First-degree burns only injure the top layer of skin, are usually red, can be painful, and dry to the touch. Second-degree burns reach further into the lower layers of the skin, appear “wet” or discolored, often cause white blisters, and are generally painful. Third-degree burns span the entire skin and sometimes extend to the surrounding tissue. These sores look dry and rough, and the skin on the burned area may appear black, white, brown, or yellow. These wounds cause swelling and are very severe, although they are often less painful than lighter burns because the nerve endings have been damaged.
- If you are unsure about the extent of your burn, contact your doctor. If you're sure it's not a first-degree burn, see a doctor. Second- and third-degree burns can be life-threatening if not treated properly.
- Continue treatment only if you know it is a minor first- or second-degree burn. Other burns should not be treated with this method unless your doctor allows it.
- Do not treat third-degree burns, or other open wounds, with aloe vera. Aloe vera does not dry out burns, which makes them difficult to heal.
Step 3. Cool the wound
Once you recognize the severity of the burn and stay away from dangerous situations, you can begin to cool the wound. This helps remove heat from the wound and soothes the skin before applying aloe vera. Flush the wound with cold water for 10-15 minutes as soon as possible after the burn.
- If you can't reach the wound with tap or shower water, soak a cloth in cold water and place it over the burn for 20 minutes. Replace the cloth with a new wet cloth if the temperature starts to rise.
- If possible, soak the burned area in cold water for at least 5 minutes. You can soak the area in a sink or bowl of cold water.
Step 4. Clean the wound
After cooling, the wound should be cleaned. Take some soap and rub it on your hands. Gently rub the soap on the burned area to clean. Rinse the area with cold water to remove foam. Pat dry with a towel.
Do not rub the wound as this may irritate the skin more or tear it because it is sensitive, or start to blister
Part 2 of 3: Treating Burns with Aloe Vera
Step 1. Cut the aloe vera
If you have an aloe vera plant at home or near where you burned, you can use it to get fresh aloe. Remove some of the fat leaves from the underside of the aloe vera plant. Cut the thorns on the leaves so they don't get punctured. Cut the leaf in half in the middle and cut the inside with a knife. This method will remove the aloe vera juice from the leaves. Place the aloe vera juice in a plate.
- Repeat this process until you have enough aloe vera juice to cover the entire burn.
- The aloe vera plant is easy to care for. They grow in almost all cool and warm climates. Water every day and make sure you don't overwater. Aloe vera branches can be bred to grow new plants.
Step 2. Use aloe vera juice that is sold in stores
If you don't have the plant, you can use an aloe vera gel or cream that is sold in the market. This product can be found in many stores, pharmacies, and grocery stores. When choosing a particular brand, make sure the cream or gel is 100% aloe vera juice or something close. Some products contain more aloe vera, but what you need is the one with the highest possible aloe vera content.
Check the ingredients in the gel you buy. Some claim their products are “made from pure aloe vera” only contain 10% aloe vera juice
Step 3. Apply a generous amount of aloe vera juice on the burn
Pour the aloe vera gel or juice you took from the plant into your hands. Gently apply to the burned area, making sure not to rub the injured area too hard. Repeat 2-3 times a day until the burn doesn't hurt.
You should only cover the wound that has been smeared with aloe vera if the wound is in a place that can rub or hurt the wound if it is not protected. If so, use a clean bandage or gauze that won't leave any residue when removed
Step 4. Take an aloe vera bath
If you want an alternative to applying aloe vera gel, you can take an aloe vera bath. If you have an aloe vera plant, boil some of the leaves. Remove the leaves and pour the water, which may be brown, into the tub. If you have aloe vera gel, pour a generous amount of the gel into the water while filling the tub. Lie down in warm water mixed with aloe vera for 20 minutes to soothe the burn.
You can also buy foam soap with aloe vera in it, but it is not recommended to use this product on burns. Products may contain chemicals that dry out the skin instead of moisturizing it
Part 3 of 3: Knowing When to Seek Medical Help
Step 1. See a doctor if the burn is large, moderately severe, or located in a sensitive area
Burns like this should only be treated by medical personnel. Trying to treat the burn yourself can actually lead to infection or scarring. In general, see a doctor if your burn:
- located on the face, palms, soles of the feet, genitals, or joints.
- measuring more than 5 cm.
- classified as third degree burns.
Tip:
If you are unsure of the degree of a burn, call your doctor. If you suspect the wound is not a first-degree burn, see a doctor. Second and third degree burns can be life threatening if not treated properly.
Step 2. Seek medical attention if the burn shows signs of infection or scarring
Burns can become infected even after treatment. Fortunately, doctors can prescribe medications to kill the infection, such as antibiotics or medicated creams. Signs of infection include:
- There is fluid coming out of the wound
- Redness around the wound
- Swollen
- Pain that's getting worse
- Scars
- Fever
Step 3. See a doctor if your burn doesn't heal after 1 week
Burns may take a few weeks to heal, but should improve after about a week of being treated at home. If your burn doesn't appear to be improving, you may need medical attention. The doctor can examine the burn and provide additional treatment.
Observe your burn by taking a photo of it or comparing its size each day
Step 4. Ask for a burn cream or pain reliever if necessary
Your doctor can prescribe a burn cream or ointment to speed up the healing process. This cream or ointment will help prevent infection as well as prevent the bandage from sticking to the wound, if you use one. In addition, doctors can also prescribe pain medication to help reduce pain during the wound healing period.
Chances are, your doctor will suggest that you try an over-the-counter pain reliever first, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
Tips
- Sunburned skin is sensitive to sunlight even when it heals. Use a high-level sunscreen for 6 months after sunburn to avoid skin discoloration and further damage.
- Take ibuprofen or other medications to relieve swelling of the tissues and reduce pain.
- See a doctor immediately if you suspect that this is not a first-degree burn. These wounds must be treated by a doctor and cannot be treated at home.
- A severe second-degree burn with bleeding blisters can turn into a third-degree burn and should be treated by a doctor.
- Get medical care if you have facial burns.
- Do not apply ice cubes to burns. Extreme cold temperatures can further damage the burn.
- Do not apply household ingredients such as butter, flour, oil, toothpaste, or moisturizing lotion to burns. This can actually make the damage worse.
