Other names for Burns and Scalds

Contact burns
Hot liquid burns
Skin tissue injury from heat
Thermal burns
Thermal skin trauma

Synopsis of Burns and Scalds

Burns and scalds refer to injuries to the skin and underlying tissues caused by heat, including dry heat (fire, hot surfaces) or moist heat (steam, hot liquids). Burns are categorized by severity based on depth and extent of tissue damage:

• First-degree burns: Affect the outer layer of skin (epidermis), causing redness and mild pain (e.g., sunburn).

• Second-degree burns: Affect the epidermis and dermis, leading to redness, blistering, and more intense pain.

• Third-degree burns: Extend into deeper tissues, causing white or charred skin and potential nerve damage.

Scalds, a type of burn caused by moist heat, often affect children or older adults and usually involve hot liquids or steam. Immediate treatment focuses on cooling the burn, preventing infection, and promoting healing. Severe burns require medical intervention to prevent complications like shock, infection, or scarring.

Types:

• Thermal burns: From fire, hot surfaces, or steam.

• Scalds: From hot liquids or steam exposure.

• Electrical burns: From electric currents.

• Chemical burns: From corrosive substances.

• Radiation burns: From sun exposure or radiation therapy.

Common Causes (Risk Factors):

• Contact with hot objects: Stoves, irons, tools.

• Hot liquids or steam exposure: Cooking accidents, bathing in too-hot water.

• Open flames: House fires, grills, campfires.

• Electrical accidents: Wires, outlets.

• Sun exposure: Leading to sunburn.

• Chemical exposure: Cleaning agents, industrial chemicals.

More Severe Causes (Complications):

• Infection: Open skin increases risk, especially in second- or third-degree burns.

• Scarring: From deep or improperly treated burns.

• Fluid loss and shock: In severe burns, the body loses fluids rapidly.

• Restricted mobility: From burns over joints leading to contractures.

• Hypothermia or hyperthermia: Disruption of body temperature regulation.

When to See a Doctor or Specialist (Burn Specialist, Dermatologist):

• Burns larger than 3 inches, or located on the face, hands, feet, groin, or joints.

• Second- or third-degree burns.

• Signs of infection: Pus, increased redness, swelling, or fever.

• Electrical or chemical burns.

• Difficulty breathing after inhalation injury (smoke, steam).

• Uncontrolled pain or slow-healing burns.

Natural remedies for Burns and Scalds

Cool Water Rinse (Immediate First Aid): Reduces heat, pain, and limits tissue damage. Run under cool (not cold) water for 10–20 minutes.

Aloe Vera Gel: Soothes burned skin, reduces inflammation, and promotes healing. Apply pure gel directly to the burn.

Honey: Natural antimicrobial and wound healer, reduces infection risk and supports tissue repair. Apply a thin layer to minor burns.

Lavender Essential Oil (Diluted): Promotes skin healing and reduces pain. Mix with a carrier oil before applying.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA, EPA): Reduce inflammation and support tissue regeneration. Include fish oil supplements.

Curcumin (Turmeric): Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, supports healing and reduces oxidative stress. Take internally for systemic support.

Zinc: Essential for wound healing and skin regeneration. Supplement if deficient.

Vitamin C: Supports collagen synthesis and tissue repair. Supplement regularly.

Epsom Salt Soaks (for minor burns on hands or feet): Soothes skin and reduces swelling. Soak for 15–20 minutes.

Keep the Area Moisturized (with natural ointments): Prevents dryness and cracking, supports healing. Use ointments with aloe, honey, or natural oils.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Burns and Scalds

Abuta
Acacia
Acemannan
Achyranthes
Aconite
Aerva lanata
Agave
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Ajuga
Akebia
Albizia
Albumin
Alchemilla
Alchornea
Alkanet
Alkanna
Allantoin
Allium tuberosum
Aloe vera
alpinia galangal
Alstonia macrophylla
Alstonia scholaris
American Liverleaf
amino acids
Amor seco
anamu
animal Tissue
annatto
Anserina
Antirrhinum majus
Arani
Ardisia
argan nut oil
arnica
Asam gelugor
asiaticoside
assam indigo
aster root
Asteraceae
aucubin
avens
babassu
babchi
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
bai ji
Baliospermum
balsam
bamboo
banana
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
barbary matrimony vine
Barleria
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee products
bee propolis
Begonia fimbristipula
bentonite
benzoin
bermuda grass
beta caryophyllene
betel
betony
Bidens pilosa
big quaking grass
bindweed
birch
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
black cumin
black nightshade
black root
Black spruce
black walnut
blackberry
blackboard tree
blackbrush
blackthorn
Blepharis
Bletilla
blubber oil
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Bougainvillea
boxthorne
Brazilian peppertree
bromelain
Broussonetia
buckthorn
Butea monosperma
bасора
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
cajuput
Calendula
Calotropis gigantea
Calyptridium umbellatum
camphor oil
Campylandra fimbriata
candleberry
cape aloe
capillary artemisia
carrapichinho
carrot
Carthamus
caryophyllene
Casearia esculenta
Casearia sylvestris
castor oil
catkin
cattail
cayenne pepper
cedar
Cedrus libani
celandine
Celosia
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
Centipeda
Ceylon leadwort
chaff flower
chamomile
chickweed
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese raisintree
Chinese silkvine
Chiococca alba
chlorophyllin
Chlorophytum
Chondrus
chrysophanics
cinquefoil
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
clove
cocklebur
coconut
coconut milk
coconut oil
colloidal silver
comfrey
commiphora
common thatching grass
copaiba oil
cosmos
costus
couch grass
cowherb
cucumber
Cucurbita
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
curry leaf
Cyathula
Cynanchum
Cynodon dactylon
Davilla rugosa
devil\'s club
dianthrone
Dianthus
Dichrostachys glomerata
Didymocarpus
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
dioscorea
divi-divi
dodder
dragon\'s blood
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Eclipta
Elaeagnus glabra
elemi
elephant vine
elephant\'s head
Embelia
emu oil
English elm
English horsemint
Epidermal Growth Factor
Erigeron
Erodium cicutarium
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
eugenol
Euphorbia
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European Elder
European five-finger grass
fang-feng
fern
fibroblast growth factor
Ficus religiosa
Ficus simplicissima
fir
fireweed
fleabane
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
frankincense
fringed pink
fulvic acid
fungus
Galbanum
gallotannin
Gardenia jasminoides
garlic
garlic bulb
Genipa americana
genipap
geranium
ghatti
giant blazingstar
Glechoma hederacea
Glycerite
Gnaphalium
golden eye-grass
golden shower tree
Golden Willow
goldenrod
goldthread
gooseberry
gotu kola
green chiretta
Guava
Guazuma ulmifolia
heal-all
Heartsease
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
hemp oil
henna
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
Himalaya berry
Homalomena
honey
honeysuckle
Horsemint
Houttuynia
Huang hua
hyacinth bean
hyaluronic acid
Hydrocolloid
Hygrophila
Immortelle
Indian bael
Indian coraltree
Indian fagonia
Indian frankincense
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian kinotree
Indian nightshade
Indian tinospora
indigo leaves
iodine
iridoid glycosides
iridoids
Japanese sophora
Jessica\'s sticktight
joe-pye
jojoba oil
jujube
jungli-bean
Kalanchoe pinnatum
Kigelia africana
Kokilaksha
L-glutamine
Labdanum
labrador tea
lac resin
lacquertree
Laggera pterodonta
Lantana camara
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
Lebbek
Leptadenia
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
lichen
Lilium polyphyllum
lily
linden
Litsea
little ironweed
lodhtree
Lophira lanceolata
loquat
Loranthus
lotus
luffa
Lycopodium
Lygodium
Macaranga indica
Mahonia
mallow
Malva sylvestris
Manchurian thorn
manzanita
marigold
Marsh Tea
Marshmallow
Matapalo Tree
Matico
melaleuca alternifolia
Melia
Menthol oil
Mesua
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microcos
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Momordica
Monkey flower
Monoterpenes
Morinda
Moringa
Morning glory
Moss
Mountain mahogany
Mucilage
Mugwort
mustard seed
Myrobalan
Myrrh
Naphthoquinones
Nardostachys
Neem tree
Nigella seed
Nimbidin
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
Oak
Ocotillo
onion
Onosma bracteatum
orchid
oriental arborvitae
ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Oxystelma
paederia foetida
pagoda tree
Panthenol
papain
papaya
Paris polyphylla
parsley
parthenium
Patrinia
paw paw
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Pentatropis capensis
peony
Pepper Bark Tree
Peptides
Petiveria
phenolic compounds
Phragmites
Phyllanthus
Physalis angulata
pistacia integerrima gall
Plantago
plantain
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
Polygonatum
poplar
poppy
Portulaca
Potentilla
Povidone
Propolis
protease
Prunus
Psacalium peltatum
purified silver
purple Tephrosia
Pyrrosia
quail egg
queen of the meadow
red alder
red soapwort
red spiderling
resin
rhizome
Rhus glabra
ricinoleic acid
Rosa laevigata
rosemary
rubber rabbitbrush
Rubia yunnanensis
rue
sage
Sagebrush
Salvia
Samphire
Sandalwood
Sandy Everlasting
Sangre de Grado
Sanguisorba
Sanicle
Sapindus mukorossi
Sarcandra glabra
Sarivan
Scabrous Gentian
schizonepeta
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
sea salt
selenium
Self-Heal
Semecarpus anacardium
Semiaquilegia
Sensitive Plant
Sericin
Sesbania
Sete sangrias
sheep's sorrel
shen-chu
Shikonin
Sichuan Lovage
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sicklepod
Sida cordifolia
siler root
silicon
Silk protein
Silkmoth
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Smartweed
Smooth Alder
Snakeroot
Soapberry
Soft rush
Solanaceae
Solanum indicum
solomon's seal
Sophora
Southern Tsangshu
Southernwood
Spanish Needle
Speedwell
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
Spilanthes
Spiny Restharrow
squawvine
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stellaria dichotoma
Stereospermum
Storax
Sumac
Sweet Annie
sweet flag
sweetgums
Szechuan lovage
Tagetes
Takuna
Tamaricaceae
Tannins
Tansy
Tayuya
Tea
Tea Tree Oil
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Terpinen-4-ol
Thaumatococcus daniellii
thyme
Thymoquinone
Thymus
Tillandsia
Tinospora cordifolia
Triterpenes
Tubbeflower
Tulbaghia
turmeric
Turtle Head
typhonium
Ulmus
Verbascoside
Vervain
Viola
Violet
vitamin A
vitamin C
Waltheria ovata
Water Pepper
Wax Gourd
Weak Jumby Pepper
White oak
Whiteweed
Willow
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Witch Hazel
Wood betony
Wrightia tinctoria
Wulinshen
Yarrow
Yellow root
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba buena
Yerba Mansa
Yuzu
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
Zinc
Zingiberene
Zucchini