This Could Save a Life: Treating Burns at Home

Some are not effective, and some can actually worsen an illness or injury. Knowing which will do what under what conditions can be too complicated for medical nonprofessionals even without the stress an emergency can create, and many people give very conflicting and sometimes potentially dangerous advice particularly when it comes to treating burns. But with a few simple tips on what to do and what to avoid in some common situations, knowing when or even if to use a home remedy can make a significant difference in a patient's medical care and comfort level.

Effective home treatment for burns begins with assessing the size and severity of the burn. For judging the size of a burn, consider that the palm of a person's hand is generally considered to be about 1% of the skin's surface area, so a burn that appears to be three times the size of the patient's palm is typically estimated to cover 3% of the person's surface area. A superficial burn, which only involves the epidermis, would only look red and perhaps a little swollen. A partial thickness burn (also known as a second-degree burn) involves the underlying dermis and is often characterized by blistering. Full thickness burns involve every layer of skin and sometimes go all the way through, affecting tissue below the skin. Some may look no different than partial thickness burns, but a charred look and severe discoloration is often seen in those cases. Full thickness burns of any size are critical on children younger than 5 and require medical attention for anyone else as well. Large partial thickness burns or even superficial burns of greater than half of the skin surface will likely also require medical attention.

You may be very unlikely to deal with anything worse than a minor or moderate burn, but there are things you can do at home that could help even someone severely burned.

1. Stop the burning. If the burn is caused by a flame, wet down or smother the fire. If the burn is caused by semi-solid scalding such as with grease, cool the area with water.

2. Check airway and breathing, and look for signs of airway damage such as soot deposits or facial burns. Burns are not just skin injuries, after all, and all burns complicated by respiratory injury are automatically considered critical.

3. Check for signs of shock, and put the feet up if the patient is looking pale or clammy.

4. Remove clothing and jewelry from the affected area, as swelling can occur.

5. Use only a dry, sterile gauze dressing with no adhesive.

6. If the burn is large or moderate to critical in severity, it will be necessary to consult your doctor and/or your local emergency medical services. Remember what caused the burn as well as other signs, symptoms, and what you've done to treat it at home to report to any medical professional whose help you may need.

7. Over the long term, eat a very balanced diet with sufficient amounts of vitamins A, C, and E as well as zinc. Not only will a healthy diet speed healing, but over the long term, it will help people bounce back faster from other illnesses and injuries.

Do not put ice on a burn. When cooling a burn, do not even use cold water. Cool, not cold, water will provide effective enough relief, and getting damaged skin too cold can add its own set of complications.

Do not apply butter or any kind of grease to a burn. Not only could it effectively fry still-hot skin, the grease itself can help turn already vulnerable tissue into a breeding ground for infection, rather like raw egg white, another "remedy" for burns.

Vinegar, recommended by many to treat burns, should not be applied to any burns with abrasions or popped blisters. Commercially prepared mustard, which also contains vinegar, may not be any better, plus all the evidence that these remedies work is entirely anecdotal.

Milk and honey show a bit more promise for treating burns, but the jury's still out on their effectiveness.

Do not immediately slather on the aloe. While it can help reduce healing time, give the skin 2 or 3 days before using it. And steer clear of commercial preparations with lots of additives or fragrance that can further irritate the skin.