Natural Burn Remedies and Ointments

Natural burn remedies can help reduce the pain and inflammation caused by burns. In some cases, natural burn remedies also can help promote healing of the skin. While natural burn remedies may offer certain benefits, it's important to remember that some types of burns require medical attention.

When it comes to treating burns at home, the level of severity of the burn is of the utmost importance:

First-Degree Burns: Red and painful, first-degree burns tend to swell slightly and turn white when you apply pressure to the skin.

Second-Degree Burns: Typically producing blisters, second-degree burns are thicker, very painful, and may cause the skin to turn red, splotchy, and swollen.

Third-Degree Burns: A type of burn that damages all layers of the skin, third-degree burns leave the skin white or charred. Due to damage to the nerves and tissue, third-degree burns may cause little or no pain. These types of burns require immediate medical attention.

If you're in doubt about the severity of your burn, contact a medical provider immediately.

Studies suggest that a number of natural remedies may aid in the treatment of first- and second-degree burns. Here's a look at some key research findings.

Aloe vera can speed up healing of first- to second-degree burns, according to a research review published in Burns in 2007.

To soothe pain and stave off blisters and scarring, apply aloe vera gel directly to the burn once or twice daily until it's fully healed.

Several studies show that applying honey to the burned skin may help promote healing and reduce inflammation. For example, a 2009 report from The New Zealand Medical Journal reviewed eight studies (with a total of 624 subjects) and found that honey was effective in treating first- or second-degree burns. Most of the studies involved the use of unprocessed honey covered by sterile gauze.

According to a 2011 report from The Scientific World Journal, honey may help heal burns by stimulating the immune system.

A flower found to possess anti-inflammatory properties, calendula shows promise in the treatment of burns. In a 2008 study from the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, for instance, researchers found that applying calendula extract to the skin helped promote healing in rats that had suffered burn injuries. However, more research needs to be conducted before calendula can be recommended as a burn remedy.

Due to the limited research, it's too soon to recommend natural remedies as a treatment for burns. Some burns should be treated by medical professionals only. For instance, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends seeing a doctor if you experience:

• A burn on your face, over a major joint (such as the knee or shoulder), or on your hands, feet, or genitals.
• A first- or second-degree burn that covers an area larger than two inches in diameter.
• A third-degree burn.

You should contact your medical provider if your burn fails to heal following treatment with natural burn remedies. Self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences.