What are the best home treatments for scald burns?
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If you have ever washed dishes with hot water or sipped a hot beverage, you have an idea of what a hot water burn is. Most of these hot water burns are caused by heat from a stove, fire, or hot iron. Hot water burns are also known as scald burns — and are caused by fluids such as hot water or steam. A report released by Burn Foundation reveals that over 500,000 scald burns happen in the US annually. Elders aged 65 and older or kids under the age of 5 are at a higher risk for scald burns.
Note that scalding can result in excruciating pain and skin damage. These types of burns are dangerous as they cause a lot of damage to the affected body tissues and cells. The victim’s body can go into shock due to the heat. In the worst cases, scald burns can be life-threatening. If you or your loved one has suffered mild or severe hot water burns, it wise to seek medical attention. Here are some home treatments you can implement to ease the pain.
Run the burn under cold water
According to medical experts, running cold water over a second- or first-degree burn for 15-20 minutes can help cool the skin down, soothe the affected area, and potentially prevent further damage to the tissue. This technique is associated with two major benefits; it can stop or reduce the pain and prevents the injured tissue from worsening and causing further damage to the inner layers of your skin.
Keep the burned area clean
This is likely to be painful, but you must clean the burn after running it under cool water. It’s recommended to use a mild antibacterial soap and not to scrub the burned area. Cleaning it gently can help prevent infection.
Medical practitioners warn that if an infection develops in the burn, it will definitely compromise the healing process. And if the burned area doesn’t heal as expected, you might require further medical attention. This will cost you money.
Be careful with bandages
You may not need to cover minor and second-degree burns with a bandage if the blisters aren’t open. If some of the blisters have started oozing or the skin appears to have been charred, it means bacteria and dirt can easily enter your skin. In this case, a bandage can offer an excellent barrier against infections. When applying the bandage, ensure it’s wrapped loosely and don’t use a sticky bandage.
Honey
A study done in 2018 revealed that honey could offer clinical benefits whenever a person applies it to the burns. Consider applying some honey to a bandage before placing it on the burn. This can help sterilize the area and lower the risk of infection. Honey can also soothe burns and ease the pain as well.
Remember, these home treatments for scald burns aren’t a replacement for medical treatment. While minor and second-degree burns might not need medical attention, you should monitor them closely and seek medical attention if the symptoms seem to be getting worse. All third-degree and fourth-degree need immediate medical attention.