| | | | Other Names | | | First Degree Burn, First Degree Burns, Second degree Burn, Second Degree
Burns, Third Degree Burn, Third Degree Burns, First-Degree Burn,
First-Degree Burns, Second-Degree Burn, Second-Degree
Burns, Third-Degree Burn, Third-Degree Burns.
View products
| | | For minor burns, natural medicine may be helpful after the burn is cleaned
with soap and cold water and gently dried. Because of the risk of
infection, topical applications should not be made to blistered or open
burn wounds, unless under medical supervision. Extensive burns or burns
causing more than minor discomfort should be treated by a healthcare
professional.
What are the symptoms of burns? Symptoms depend on
the severity and cause of the burn but usually include pain and
sensitivity to touch. The skin may appear swollen, blistered, dried,
charred, weeping, or red, gray, or black-colored.
Conventional
treatment options: Conventional treatment depends on the depth of the burn
and amount of body area affected. Minor burns are treated with topical
ointments and dressings. Severe burns are considered an emergency,
requiring hospitalization. They are typically treated by surgical removal
of burned tissue followed by grafting of skin or synthetic substitutes. In
addition, topical antimicrobial agents (e.g., silver sulfadiazine,
mafenide acetate, and silver nitrate) and systemic antibiotics are used to
manage infection.
Dietary changes that may be helpful: The body
repairs and builds new tissues in a process called anabolism. Adequate
amounts of calories and protein are required for anabolism, as the skin
and underlying tissues are comprised of protein and energy is needed to
fuel repair mechanisms. While major injuries requiring hospitalization
raise protein and calorie requirements significantly, injuries such as
minor burns should not require changes from a typical, healthful
diet.1
Nutritional supplements that may be helpful: Antioxidants
may protect the skin from sunburn due to free radical-producing
ultraviolet rays.2 Combinations of 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day of vitamin E
and 2,000 to 3,000 mg per day of vitamin C, but neither given alone, have
a significant protective effect against ultraviolet rays, according to
double-blind studies.3 4 5 Oral beta-carotene alone was not found to
provide effective protection in a recent double-blind study,6 but it has
been suggested that other carotenoids such as lycopene may be more
important for ultraviolet protection.7 The amount of lycopene that would
be helpful is not known. Six ounces of tomato juice (one of the richest
dietary sources of lycopene) provides about 25 mg of lycopene.8
Double-blind research has also shown that topical application of
antioxidants protects against sunburn if used before,9 but not after,10
exposure.11
Despite a lack of research on the subject, using
vitamin E topically on minor burns is a popular remedy. This makes sense,
because some of the damage done to the skin is oxidative, and vitamin E is
an antioxidant. Some doctors suggest simply breaking open a capsule of
vitamin E and applying it to the affected area two or three times per day.
Vitamin E forms are listed as either "tocopherol" or "tocopheryl" followed
by the name of what is attached to it, as in "tocopheryl acetate." While
both forms are active when taken by mouth, the skin utilizes the
tocopheryl forms very slowly.12 13 Therefore, those planning to apply
vitamin E to the skin should buy the tocopherol form.
Colloidal
silver has been used as a topical antiseptic for minor burns for over a
century. Internal use of colloidal silver is not recommended for this
condition.
Are there any side effects or interactions? Refer to the
individual supplement for information about any side effects or
interactions.
Herbs that may be helpful: Aloe is another popular
remedy for minor burns and a small preliminary study found it more
effective than vaseline in treating burns.14 The stabilized aloe gel is
typically applied to the affected area of skin three to five times per
day. Older case studies reported that aloe gel applied topically could
help heal radiation burns,15 but a large, double-blind trial did not find
aloe effective in this regard.16
Calendula cream may be applied to
minor burns to soothe pain and help promote tissue repair. It has been
shown in animal studies to be anti-inflammatory17 and to aid repair of
damaged tissues.18 The cream is applied three times per day. Plantain is
regarded as similar to calendula in traditional medicine, though usually
the whole leaf is applied directly to the burn as a poultice.
Gotu
kola has been used in the medicinal systems of central Asia for centuries
to treat numerous skin diseases. Saponins in gotu kola beneficially affect
collagen (the material that makes up connective tissue) to inhibit its
production in hyperactive scar tissue following burns or
wounds.19
Are there any side effects or interactions? Refer to the
individual herb for information about any side effects or
interactions.
Other integrative approaches that may be helpful:
Acupuncture may be useful in the treatment of serious burns. A report of
patients suffering from extensive second-degree burns suggests acupuncture
can reduce shock and pain following the acute injury and may reduce
infection and pain when used as a part of post-injury wound care.20 A
preliminary report described ten patients with second-degree burns that
did not respond to conventional medical treatment. A majority of these
patients achieved greater than 90% recovery following electrical
stimulation to the wound (similar to electroacupuncture).21 Ear
(auricular) acupuncture with electrical stimulation was studied in a small
controlled trial, in which a significantly greater reduction in pain from
burns was achieved with acupuncture. The relief lasted at least 60 minutes
following acupuncture treatment.22
References:
1. Souba WW,
Wilmore D. Diet and nutrition in the care of the patient with surgery,
trauma, and sepsis. In Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M, et al. Modern
Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams &
Wilkins, 1999, 1589-618.
2. Fuchs J. Potentials and limitations of
the natural antioxidants RRR-alpha-tocopherol, L-ascorbic acid and
beta-carotene in cutaneous photoprotection.Free Radic Biol Med
1998;25:848-73.
3. Fuchs J, Kern H. Modulation of UV-light-induced
skin inflammation by D-alpha-tocopherol and L-ascorbic acid: a clinical
study using solar simulated radiation. Free Radic Biol Med
1998;25:1006-12.
4. Eberlein-Konig B, Placzek M, Przybilla B.
Protective effect against sunburn of combined systemic ascorbic acid
(vitamin C) and d-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). J Am Acad Dermatol
1998;38:45-8.
5. Werninghaus K, Meydani M, Bhawan J, et al.
Evaluation of the photoprotective effect of oral vitamin E
supplementation. Arch Dermatol 1994;130:1257-61.
6. Garmyn M,
Ribaya-Mercado JD, Russel RM, et al. Effect of beta-carotene
supplementation on the human sunburn reaction. Exp Dermatol
1995;4:104-11.
7. Ribaya-Mercado JD, Garmyn M, Gilchrest BA, et al.
Skin lycopene is destroyed preferentially over beta-carotene during
ultraviolet irradiation in humans. J Nutr 1995;125:1854-9.
8.
Paetau I, Khachik F, Brown ED, et al. Chronic ingestion of lycopene-rich
tomato juice or lycopene supplements significantly increases plasma
concentrations of lycopene and related tomato carotenoids in humans. Am J
Clin Nutr 1998;68:1187-95.
9. Dreher F, Gabard B, Schwindt DA, et
al. Topical melatonin in combination with vitamins E and C protects skin
from ultraviolet-induced erythema: a human study in vivo. Br J Dermatol
1998;139:332-9.
10. Dreher F, Denig N, Gabard B, et al. Effect of
topical antioxidants on UV-induced erythema formation when administered
after exposure. Dermatology 1999;198:52-5.
11. Fuchs J. Potentials
and limitations of the natural antioxidants RRR-alpha-tocopherol,
L-ascorbic acid and beta-carotene in cutaneous photoprotection. Free Radic
Biol Med 1998;25:848-73 [review].
12. Beijersbergen van Henegouwen
GM, Junginger HE, de Vries H. Hydrolysis of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate
(vitamin E acetate) in the skin and its UV protecting activity (an in vivo
study with the rat). J Photochem Photobiol B 1995;29:45-51.
13.
Norkus EP, Bryce GF, Bhagavan HN. Uptake and bioconversion of
alpha-tocopheryl acetate to alpha-tocopherol in skin of hairless mice.
Photochem Photobiol 1993;57:613-5.
14. Visuthikosol V, Chowchuen B,
Sukwanarat Y, et al. Effect of aloe vera gel to healing of burn wound: A
clinical and histologic study. J Med Assoc Thai 1995;78:403-9.
15.
Loveman AB. Leaf of Aloe vera in treatment of Roentgen ray ulcers. Arch
Derm Syph 1937;36:838-43.
16. Williams MS, Burk M, Loprinzi CL, et
al. Phase III double-blind evaluation of an Aloe vera gel as a
prophylactic agent for radiation-induced skin toxicity. Int J Rad Oncol
Biol Phys 1996;36:345-9.
17. Della Loggia R, Tubaro A, Sosa S, et
al. The role of triterpenoids in the topical anti-inflammatory activity of
Calendula officinalis flowers. Planta Medica 1994;60:516-20.
18.
Patrick KFM, Kumar S, Edwardson PAD, Hutchinson JJ. Induction of
vascularisation by an aqueous extract of the flowers of Calendula
officinalis L the European marigold. Phytomedicine 1996;3:11-8.
19.
Werbach MR, Murray MT. Botancial Influences on Illness. Tarzana, CA: Third
Line Press, 2000, 143-7.
20. Jichova E, Konigova R, Prusik K.
Acupuncture in patients with thermal injuries. Acta Chir Plast
1983;25:102-8.
21. Sumano H, Mateos G. The use of acupuncture-like
electrical stimulation for wound healing of lesions unresponsive to
conventional treatment. Am J Acupunct 1999;27:5-14.
22. Lewis SM,
Clelland JA, Knowles CJ, et al. Effects of auricular acupuncture-like
transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation on pain levels following wound
care in patients with burns: a pilot study. J Burn Care Rehabil
1990;11:3229.
Article Source: NOW Foods
View products
| |
Please Note: This Traditional Use information is provided as a courtesy only. The products indicated above may be listed in error. This information is based on Traditional and Folklore Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA and is not based on scientific evidence from any source. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
| | 3 total products | | | Burns (Read all about Burns.) | |
| | |  |
|
Burns - Health - Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Essential Oil - 100% Pure
0.50 oz / 14 g
6.86 US
In Stock - Ships Today!
More Info
| |
Burns - Health - Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Essential Oil - 100% Pure
1.70 oz / 48 g
12.48 US
In Stock - Ships Today!
More Info
| |
Burns - Health - Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Essential Oil - 100% Pure
3.40 oz / 96 g
19.18 US
In Stock - Ships Today!
More Info
| |
| |  |
|
