Several types of honey are known to have healing properties and have been used by people for hundreds of years to heal wounds. Medicinal honey, such as manuka, has naturally antibacterial properties and can moisturize wounds and make them heal faster. Because of this, honey is often used as a great natural remedy to heal burns. If you have a minor burn, apply honey directly to soothe the area. If the burn is severe, go to the doctor first, and use honey to help the healing process further.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Treating Minor Burns
Step 1. Identify the type of burn immediately
For minor or first-degree burns, you should only use honey. This type of burn only affects the outer layers of the skin, resulting in redness, stinging, and mild swelling. The skin also doesn't bleed or break. Minor or first-degree burns can be treated on their own.
- For second-degree burns, the pain, blistering, and redness of the skin will get worse. The skin may break and bleed.
- In third-degree burns, the top layer of skin is peeled off. The area may be white or black, and the burned area may become numb.
- Get medical help right away for second and third degree burns. This is a serious condition.
Step 2. Apply cold water to minor first degree burns
Cool the wound area as soon as possible by placing it under cold running water. Continue to rinse the wound for 5 minutes, then pat dry gently.
- Always use cold water to treat burns, not ice water. Never use ice to treat burns. Ice is too cold and can make skin sores worse.
- Do not wipe the burn with a towel because it will be very painful. Pat the wound area if you want to dry it.
- 2nd and 3rd degree burns should not be smeared directly with honey. These injuries are very serious and require immediate medical attention.
Step 3. Apply manuka honey on the burn area
Manuka honey, also known as medicinal honey, is well known for its healing properties. This honey is the best choice for treating burns. Pour about 15–30 ml of manuka honey all over the burned area and the surrounding undamaged skin.
- You can find manuka honey in supermarkets or drugstores. If you're having trouble finding it, buy manuka honey online.
- Several other types of honey can also be used as medicine, such as active leptospermum honey or ALH (active leptospermum honey). If you don't have manuka honey, you can use this honey.
- If medicinal honey is not available, the best alternative is raw, unfiltered organic honey. Do not use regular consumption (food grade) honey because it may have been added with chemicals and preservatives.
- To prevent honey from spilling all over the place, don't pour honey directly on the wound, but dip gauze in honey to apply it.
Step 4. Cover the wound area with sterile gauze to prevent the honey from flowing
Use dry, clean gauze or a non-adhesive wound bandage. Bandage the burn area and cover all parts of the honey so it doesn't drain.
- If necessary, attach the gauze with a bandage to prevent it from shifting. Make sure the tape doesn't hit the burn as it can be painful when you remove it later.
- If you dipped the gauze in honey (rather than pouring the honey directly), cover the gauze with new, dry gauze so that the honey doesn't stick to anything else.
Method 2 of 3: Changing the Bandage
Step 1. Change the bandage daily until the wound heals
Depending on the severity, burns can take about 1-4 weeks to heal. Change the bandage daily and apply fresh honey to keep the area moist and free from bacteria. You can stop treatment once the wound has healed.
- Go to the doctor immediately if you see any signs of infection.
- If you wish, you can stop using honey at any time. Replace honey with antibacterial cream to prevent infection.
Step 2. Wash your hands before removing the bandage
Make sure your hands are clean before you change the bandage that covers the burn. Otherwise, the burn can become infected.
- If you ask someone else for help, make sure they wash their hands too.
- This treatment can be applied to 2nd and 3rd degree burns while you are healing and have received medical assistance. Do not use any kind of honey until this serious burn is treated by a doctor.
Step 3. Gently remove the bandage
Remove the tape used to attach the bandage, then gently peel off the gauze. Do not immediately pull it because it can tear the wound. Do this slowly and gradually remove the bandage. Honey will make it easier for you to loosen and separate the bandage from your skin. So, the bandage can definitely be removed easily.
- If the bandage sticks to the skin, soak the wound in cold water for about 5 minutes to loosen it.
- Do not pull and tear loose or peeling skin as this can cause inflammation.
Step 4. Rinse off the remaining honey using cold water
If any honey is still on the skin, rinse the area with tap water for a few minutes. Honey that sticks to the wound area is usually easy to rinse off. When you're done, dry the area gently with a towel.
Do not remove honey by rubbing it. This can be painful and make the burn red. Leave the honey that is hard to remove
Step 5. Check for signs of infection in the burn
Although honey is a natural antiseptic, burns can still become infected. Before the burn is closed again, inspect the area for signs of infection. If you notice any of the signs below, go to the doctor to have the wound checked.
- Discharge of pus or fluid
- Swelling that contains anything but clear fluid (if the skin is blistered, leave the blister intact)
- Red streaks spreading from the burn
- Fever
Step 6. Add new honey on the burn area
Use the same type and amount of honey as used in the previous treatment. Apply honey all over the burn area and the skin around it.
Step 7. Put on a new bandage
Cover the burn area with gauze or another non-adhesive bandage. Wrap a bandage around the wound and secure it with a band-aid if necessary.
Method 3 of 3: Seeking Medical Help
Step 1. Get medical help as soon as possible for severe burns
Get medical help right away if you have a 2nd or 3rd degree burn. Go to the nearest hospital or clinic, or get help by calling emergency services.
- Also seek emergency care for burns that look rough, or areas where the wound appears charred, blackened, browned, or whitened.
- Also, go to the ER immediately or seek help if the burn reaches the lungs or throat, affects the face, legs, hands, groin, and buttocks, or is in a major joint of the body.
- In second-degree burns, cool the wound under cold running water for about 15 minutes, or until medical help arrives.
Step 2. Get medical help as soon as possible if the burn was caused by electric shock and chemicals
Burns due to electricity and chemicals should be treated by a doctor immediately. Victims may require special care and cleaning procedures.
- Chemical burns should be rinsed immediately with cold running water for at least 5 minutes. Get medical help immediately after.
- Consult a doctor before using honey to treat chemical burns. This type of burn may respond differently to honey.
Step 3. Call the doctor if there are signs of infection
Even though it has been treated properly and properly, burns can become infected. Go to the doctor or hospital if you have any of the following signs of infection:
- There is fluid flowing out of the burn area
- Increased pain, redness, or swelling around the burn.
- Fever
Step 4. See a doctor if a minor burn doesn't heal after two weeks
1st or 2nd degree burns usually heal in about 2 weeks. If the wound hasn't healed or isn't improving significantly, go to the doctor to find out why the wound hasn't healed.
Step 5. Seek medical attention if the burn results in severe scarring
Most minor burns will heal without scarring. Consult your doctor if you notice a scar that is severe or prominent after the wound has healed. The doctor will diagnose the cause of the scar tissue and suggest the necessary treatment. Some of the treatments commonly used to treat scars include:
- Applying silicone gel
- Protect scars from the sun using sunscreen and protective clothing
- Using lasers or steroid injections to relieve pain and reduce the appearance and size of scars
- Undergo surgery to remove scars.
Tips
Keep in mind that most studies always use raw, unprocessed honey in their experiments. So, factory-made processed honey may not be used to heal burns. Factory-made honey can even cause irritation because it has been given additional chemicals and preservatives. Only use unprocessed medicinal honey, such as manuka honey
Warning
- Do not attempt to remove clothing or any material adhering to a 2nd or 3rd degree burn. This can cause severe skin damage. Let the medics take it off.
- Never use margarine, butter, or other oily ingredients to treat burns. Even though they are well known, these ingredients can actually damage the wound area.
- Do not cool the burn with anything other than water. Ice is too cold and can damage the skin.
