Treating Burns Naturally

It is that glorious time of year where the sun is shining, families are out camping, and burns are inevitable. While thermal burns are common and happen year-round, summertime tends to see more burn cases than other times of the year. While we pray you never have to experience harsh burns firsthand,  we want to make sure you are well-equipped to handle whatever situation may come your way.

Burns are classified by their severity. Thankfully, most burns are able to be treated at home, but please understand that some burns require immediate medical care. If at any time you feel uncomfortable treating a burn at home, we urge you to seek professional medical care.

Burns are mainly divided into six groups, although we primarily only hear about three; first, second, and third-degree burns.

First-degree burns are burns that only affect the epidermis (the top layer of our skin). These types of burns usually result in a red, slightly swollen appearance, but lack blisters. They are usually accompanied by mild pain or discomfort, but heal on their own within a week.

Second-degree burns affect the top two layers of skin, the epidermis and the dermis. They will likely cause blisters and a lot of pain. These types of burns can be treated at home, but they may need an evaluation from a health care provider.

Third-degree burns affect all three layers of the skin including hair follicles, sweat glands, and underlying tissues. They cause the skin to turn white, brown, and even black. There is little to no pain because of nerve damage. They are not treatable at home, and they require immediate medical care. Wrap the wound in a clean towel or sheet and find the nearest hospital.

Fourth-degree burns affect the layer of fat underneath your skin, fifth-degree the muscle, and sixth-degree burns through to the bone.

There is a time and place for natural medicine and natural remedies, but severe burns are not one of them. Before treating a burn from home, please educate yourself on when it is necessary to go to a hospital. Seek medical care if:

• The burn is on an infant who is persistently fussy
  
• The burn covers hands, feet, genitals, groin, or the face
  
• The burn was caused by chemicals or electricity
  
• Patches of black, brown, or white skin are evident
  
• The person who was burned has a hard time breathing
  
• The burn goes all the way around any body part
  
• A second-degree burn covers more than 10% of the skin’s surface
  

The main thing that makes severe burns so dangerous is our body’s inflammatory response to them. Our body releases inflammatory cells to help repair the burn damage, but the powerful and sudden inflammation can cause organ failure. Burns also suppress immune function, leaving the body more susceptible to infections.

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While all of these cautions may seem daunting, we just want you to be aware of when treating a burn naturally may not be the best course of action. Please know that many burns can safely be treated from home. So what should you do if you get burned? 

First or Second-Degree Burns
If you get a burn, immediately cool it down. Run the burn under cool (not cold)  water for at least 10 minutes. If cool water cannot be tolerated, use a cool compress. Do not submerge the burn in water or use ice to cool the burn. This can actually damage the tissue further. Next, clean the burn. Use a mild soap and cool water to gently clean the wound. Do not break blisters if they are present! This can increase your risk of infection. If the blisters do break on their own, carefully remove the dead skin to decrease infection risk. A health care provider can do this for you if you are uncomfortable. Finally, cover the burn. See what to use to best care for your wound below, as it varies depending on the severity of your burn. Then, cover the burn with sterile gauze. 
First-degree burns are fairly common. Think of sunburns. As hard as we try, they seem inevitable this time of year! For mild, first-degree burns, our first line of defense is aloe vera gel. We do use moisturizing oils like coconut oil, but this is not to be done until the burn has cooled completely, as it has a tendency to trap heat, potentially worsening your burn. You can even use calendula oil for its added benefits!

• Aloe Vera is anti-inflammatory and can help to relieve the pain and slight swelling associated with sunburns. It encourages circulation and inhibits the growth of bacteria. It also helps to cool and moisturize the burned skin, preventing the peeling that usually accompanies a sunburn.
• Coconut oil is moisturizing and antibacterial. It can help to restore moisture to your skin and heal your burn faster. However, this oil is for use on mild sunburns only. If your burn is more severe, skip this oil and substitute a small amount of calendula oil instead.
• Calendula Oil is an awesome healing oil. It is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, meaning it kills off any harmful pathogens that can put you at risk of infection. It is also a powerful antioxidant. It preserves healthy tissue while facilitating wound healing and collagen maturation.
• Essential Oils like Frankincense, Peppermint, and Lavender are beneficial for minor burns because they cool the burn and promote healing and restoration of skin cells.

For first-degree burns try our DIY Cooling Burn Cream!

For second-degree burns, do not use coconut oil. If the burn is a minor second-degree burn, you can still use aloe vera and calendula oil to help heal it. For more severe burns with larger blisters, you can use manuka honey, colloidal silver gel, or CBD oil instead. 

• Manuka Honey is a powerhouse ingredient to have on hand. It has strong antibacterial and antioxidant properties, it enhances wound healing, speeds up the regeneration of tissues, and it can decrease the pain of the burn.
• Colloidal Silver Gel can be used to keep your burn clean and free of bacteria while also reducing pain and inflammation. If a gel cannot be tolerated, a spray is beneficial as well!
• CBD has been used as a traditional ointment for first and second-degree burns and the pain that accompanies them. It contains unsaturated oil that has both cooling and pain-relieving benefits, and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help to keep your wound clean and help it heal faster.​
• Essential Oils like Lavender, Frankincense, and Helichrysum aid to keep the burn clean, rebuild vital tissues, reduce scarring, and provide some relief from pain.

For more severe burns, try our DIY Restorative Burn Salve!

After you have covered your burn with the best method listed above for your particular burn, it is important to keep it out of the sun and away from heat. More severe burns should be covered with sterile gauze and a loose bandage. Dressings should be changed twice a day to keep your burn clean and moisturized.

To change your dressing, first, make sure you have a clean working environment. Wash your hands and the surface you will be using to hold your supplies or rest your burn on. Next, carefully remove the old dressing. It is normal for some skin to come off with the dressing, or for the wound to bleed a little bit. Discard the old dressing immediately, and begin washing your burn gently with mild soap and water. Do not scrub your burn, just lightly wash away loose skin and old ointment or salve. Once your burn is clean, gently pat it dry and apply more ointment or salve. Then apply more sterile gauze over your burn, and secure it with gauze wrap or first aid tape if the burn cannot be covered with wrap

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Healing your Burn Nutritionally
Did you know that you can help ease the healing process along with specific nutrients or supplements? Putting nourishing foods into our bodies daily is a no-brainer, but specific nutrients can lower our body’s inflammatory response and help our skin to heal faster.

• Water is the best place to start. Drinking water helps to hydrate your skin and replenish fluids that may have been lost.​

• Vitamin C, whether in supplement form or in fruits and vegetables, can boost the production of collagen, support healthy skin growth, and lower the inflammatory response.

• Omega 3 fats are perfect for skin health with or without a burn (and have the added benefit of preventing burns). This type of fat has the power to reduce inflammation and help with tissue repair.

• Zinc consumption has shown to reduce infectious complications and shorten the length of hospital stays for burn patients. Having even a mild zinc deficiency has been linked to having roughened skin and impaired wound healing. It has an important role in all stages of wound healing, and it can boost the immune system.

• Protein intake is important when recovering from any wound because it helps to facilitate tissue repair

• Beta Carotene can help to reduce the risk of infection, can reduce inflammation, and optimizes the immune response to the burn. Its antioxidant properties maintain the health of the skin and benefit its overall appearance.

• Vitamin E is a wonderful wound healer. Taken internally at 400 IU daily, the vitamin concentrates in your skin’s sebum and is released as your body releases oil. When used topically, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties aid wound healing and can reduce the amount of time it takes for the burn to heal. It is important to only use vitamin E topically after you no longer have an open sore from your burn. Once your burn no longer contains blisters or fresh sores, vitamin E can be used topically to reduce scarring and promote healing.

• L-Glutamine at 500-1000 mg/day can prevent infections and aid in tissue healing. It may speed up the recovery from severe burns.

Even mild burns can be intimidating. But knowing how to handle them and when to seek medical care is essential for proper recovery. Do you have any burn stories you would like to share?  Let us know in the comments below!