Why toothpaste on burns

If blisters form, let them heal on their own while keeping the area covered. Do not pop the blisters. Consider taking over-the-counter pain medication. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain and reduce inflammation.

Protect the area from the sun. Once the burn heals, protect the area from the sun by seeking shade, wearing protective clothing or applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. This will help minimize scarring, as the redness from a burn sometimes persists for weeks, especially in those with darker skin tones. First-degree burns usually heal on their own without treatment from a doctor. However, if your first-degree burn is very large, if the victim is an infant or elderly person, or if you think your burn is more severe, go to an emergency room immediately.

Proper wound care: How to minimize a scar. Never apply toothpaste on burn area, say doctors. News City News lucknow News Never apply toothpaste on burn area, say doctors. This story is from December 7, However, instead of providing any relief, it only aggravates the problem. As toothpastes contain harmful chemicals like calcium and peppermint, it increases the risk of contracting infections and also affects the tissue of the skin," said Dr Ankur Bhatnagar of department of plastic surgery and burns, SGPGI.

Small second-degree burns are no more than three inches in diameter. These burns are usually red, swollen, painful, and develop a blister impacting the outer and the underlying skin layers. Soak the burned area in the water or apply a cold, damp compress to the area for at least 10 minutes.

Don't use ice on the burn, as the frigid temperature can further injure the skin. After cooling the burn, apply a layer of petroleum jelly to protect it and cover it with a bandage. If there's a blister, avoid popping it. If you're in a lot of pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. We want to make sure you're comfortable.

When to Get Medical Help Major burns and burns affecting some age groups need immediate professional medical attention. Since it's essential to prevent burn-related infections and other complications, the National Institutes of Health advises urgent medical help in these cases: If a child age 4 or younger or an adult 60 and older suffers any kind of burn — minor or major. You can't diagnose the type of burn. In that case, go ahead and treat it as a major burn.

You experience large second-degree burns or second-degree burns on the hands, feet, face, joints, posterior, or genital area. You suffer third-degree burns that penetrate deep into the skin, turning it white or black. The burned area might be numb.

Was this article helpful? But much like toothpaste, the salty dairy product is not an advisable burn treatment, according to the Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital. The same goes for most body lotions. According to a literature review published in the Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters , honey has a long history of treating burns, scalds, and infected wounds. This may come from honey's ability to promote healing and reduce inflammation.

A study in the journal Wounds UK also found healing benefits from honey use. Researchers looked at the effects of honey-based ointments on wound healing in children with partial-thickness burns. In comparison to a povidone-iodine treatment, the honey proved a faster, more effective remedy.

You can try this method by spreading a few teaspoons of honey on the burn to start, or soak a piece of gauze in it before application.

You may need more of the sweet stuff for a larger area. Like honey, aloe vera has a long history of use on burns, too. According to a review of research in the journal Burns , aloe vera may help burns to heal quickly—in comparison to other options.

It may seem like all the natural remedies are made to slather over your skin. But this isn't always the case. According to the AAD, cool water is one way to treat a first-degree burn. The AAD recommends immersing your skin directly in cool water or applying a cold, wet compress. Keep the burn under the water or compress for ten minutes. If you still have pain, continue to soak or cover your burn.