How To Make a Burn Treatment

The kitchen is usually the most common place in the house where minor burns occur.  A person might grab a hot pot handle without grabbing a pot holder first, brush their arm against a hot stove or accidentally splash hot liquid on an arm or leg while cooking at the stove. To make a burn treatment that's effective, it's necessary to take prompt action and to also know when a burn might require medical attention.

A burn of any skin area on the body can become a serious matter, because the body's skin helps to hold in heat, fluids and blood supply. The bigger the area of skin that a burn affects, the more complications can arise.

The first step in burn treatment is to hold the burned area of skin under cool, but not cold, running water for at least two to three minutes in order to stop the burning sensation.  Then observe the burned area for signs of charred or blackened skin, skin that is sloughing off, or skin that is blistering.  All of these signs are indicators that there is damage to the top layer of skin, and further complications are likely to arise.  Whenever you observe these signs after a burn has taken place, call 911 for assistance or get the burn victim to an emergency room for professional medical evaluation.  If the burn has affected an entire body part, such as the whole face or stomach or leg, call immediately for medical help.

If the burn area of the affected skin is merely reddened with no blisters, sloughing or charring, start treatment by holding the affected area under cool water for several minutes. Then pat the skin dry without rubbing, and add a topical burn ointment or spray designed to treat minor burns. Many people keep a live aloe vera plant in their kitchen.  The natural get inside this plant serves as a very effective treatment to help heal minor burns.

It's a common wives' tale that butter or oil can be beneficial for treating burns. But burn treatment experts warn against applying either butter or oil as an ointment.

While the burn is healing, try not to cover the burn affected skin with heavy clothing. Wear silk or very lightweight cotton that will not irritate the skin as it heals.

Warning signs that any burn treatment is not helping the burn to heal is swelling of the burned area accompanied by physical weakness, dizziness, dehydration, fever or chills. If these signs exist, seek prompt medical help.