How to Soothe a Burn
Burns are among the most common everyday ailments experienced by people. Some people get it from being too close to a fire, others from using curling irons or flat irons. Even picking up a scalding pan can cause a painful burn. Learning how to properly soothe a burn is very useful knowledge, so here are some tips to help you remove the pain.
Flush the Burn
This is one of the most basic tactics you can do to relieve a burn. Put the affected area under a stream of water or soak it in a tub or sink. You should use cool, and not hot or cold water. If the burn is at an unreachable area, just apply a cool towel compress to the burn. Leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes.
Remove Clothing and Jewelry
Take away any clothing or jewelry that’s covering the burn. Bits and pieces of the fabric or metal might stick to the burn, causing infection or pain. As much as possible, you should air out the affected area, to relieve it. Metal jewelry also holds heat, causing further heat damage.
Clean the Burn With Water and Soap
Sometimes, a burn can have bits of dirt or grime embedded in it. Remove these quickly, as they may cause worse infections. Cleanse the burnt area gently with mild soap and cool water. Rinse properly.
Apply A Burn Ointment
There are over-the-counter burn ointments that can effectively soothe pain from burns. Find one which contains benzocaine, menthol and phenol. An analgesic cream with an antibiotic agent also works well. Follow the instructions give on the packaging as to how often you should apply it to your burn. Some require two to three applications daily.
If you don’t have a burn ointment at home, a quick alternative would be petroleum jelly. It will soothe a burn effectively until you can apply the ointment.
Use Home Remedies
Cocoa butter or vitamin E oil are good moisturizing agents. Apply these after you’ve washed and cleaned the burn.
Liberally apply aloe vera all over the burnt skin.
Apply a raw potato compress to the affected area.
Make an oatmeal and honey mixture and spread it all over the burnt skin.
Dip a chamomile tea bag in ice cold water, then apply onto the burn.
Beat and egg, soak a clean cloth in it, then cover your burn with it.
These easy tips will help you soothe and eventually heal the painful burn that’s bothering you. One last tip: Drink plenty of water to moisturize your skin and heal the burn quicker.