The Best Home Remedies for Burns and Home Remedy for Sunburn

If fire was the first invention of man, burn treatments probably were the second. I'm sure there were many times when early man got a bit too close to the flames.

While the best home remedy for sunburn is to avoid burning in the first place, if you do get burned, it's always best to be prepared with home remedies that help.

But first let's talk about home remedies for burns.

There are three major categories of burns:

First Degree Burns: These burns include sunburns and scalding. They turn red and are painful but don't blister and generally aren't serious.

Second Degree Burns: These burns blister, are very painful and may ooze. A few severe sunburns may fall into this category.

Third Degree Burns: These burns are quite serious and usually caused by either chemicals, electricity or prolonged exposure to heat. They char and may turn white or creamy. Always seek medical attention for a 3rd degree burn or a suspected third degree burn. These burn tend to not be painful as the nerve endings are killed.

Warning: Be on the lookout for signs of infection...burns which are filled with pus, a greenish fluid, swell or turn red again. Seek medical attention if this occurs.

Otherwise, check out these awesome home remedies for burns:

• The most important thing to do is stop the heat. For chemical burns, run the burned area under cool water for at least 20 minutes. For other burns, whether caused by hot water, grease, a hot stove, etc, again rinse the burn under cool running water. This will not only provide pain relief, but will stop the burning and is the most important first step towards healing.
• This is especially helpful if you burn your mouth on hot food. Rinse your mouth with cold or cool water immediately afterward.
• Aloe Vera is THE most popular of all the home remedies for burns. If you have an aloe plant, just slice that baby open and spread some of the cooling, soothing gel on the burned area. If you don't own an aloe plant and can't keep one handy, then you can buy Aloe Vera Gel 99.3%-99.3 %-16 fl. oz. for an affordable price. Again, this is something to always have on hand, as kitchen burns are so common. Aloe is both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.² Learn more about medicinal uses of aloe vera.
• Some people swear by using Vitamin E Oil for burns. Its use is somewhat controversial, but many people do find that cutting open a vitamin E capsule and putting it on burns is very helpful. Some also suggest taking Vitamin E internally during the time of healing burned skin.¹² Visit this page to learn more about what does Vitamin E do.

• MEBO or moist exposed burn ointment is a chinese herbal remedy which is absolutely fabulous at healing burns. It is a bit hard to find in the United States, and you may have to go to a Chinese herbal store or order directly from china, but it is said to work magnificently.¹⁴
• Honey is another one of the most common home remedies for burns. You naturally want to combine this with cold water...first rinse the burn in cold water and then apply honey to the burned skin.¹². Learn more about the benefits of honey.
• This is an awesome gel to have on hand. Use it for all sorts of scrapes and skin abrasions It contains marigold, tea tree, red aloe, gotu kola and lavender. It's so EASY to have something already formulated and on hand.Get more info on Pure-Heal Gel - formulated for Wounds, Burns, Abrasions and Insect Bites
• Calendula Cream was recommended to me by our children's pediatrician. After cooling a burn with cold water, apply Calendula Ointment to the burned area. You can do this as often as necessary to relieve the pain or at least 3 times a day.² Learn more about the calenduala flower.
• It's not just for cows! Try Vermont's Original Bag Balm Protective Ointment 10 oz. This soothing ointment will speed healing and soothe pain.¹
• Shea Butter, which is actually NOT a butter at all (it comes from the seeds of the Shea Tree) is awesome for burns.¹ Spread on the affected skin for soothing relief and faster healing. I like to buy Tree Hut Shea Body Butter, Original, on Amazon.com
• Drop a few drops of St. John's Wort tincture into cooled, boiled water and then use to bathe the affected area.¹².St. John's Wort liquid extract is sometimes difficult to find...usually in stores all you can find is capsules. However, I found a great price on St. John's Wort Extract here: St John'S Wort Liquid Extract-1000 mg-1 fl. oz.-Liquid. You can also use St. John's Wort Oil, if you don't have tincture. Use St. John's Wort Oil twice a day. ² Learn more about the benefits of St Johns Wort.
• Pure Lavender Oil is one of the oldest home remedies for burns. In fact, it is said that modern aromatherapy was based on the use of lavender as a treatment for burns.¹. You can use pure lavender oil or dilute in water.
• Witch Hazel is one of the lessor known home remedies for burns. Just dab witch oil on the affected skin. It is not only soothing, but it will speed healing.²
• The Mint Plant is fabulous for burns. If you grow mint in your garden, simply chop up a few mint leaves and apply to the burned skin. You can use a bandage to keep the mint in place.²



Home Remedy for Sunburn

• Aloe Vera naturally is THE most popular home remedy for sunburn. Aloe Vera counteracts the prostaglandins which cause the pain associated with a sunburn.²
• Prickly Pear Cactus is a lessor known home remedy for sunburn. Slice the cactus open and lay it on the sunburn. The gel is very soothing. Some supermarkets sell prickly pear, however usually it is found in Spanish-Markets.²
• Black Tea combined with peppermint oil is a super easy home remedy for sunburn. Just brew up some tea, allow to cool, and add 4 drops of Peppermint 100% Pure Essential Oil for every 4 oz. of tea. Combine well and then spray this on the sunburned skin. The tannins help the inflammation while the peppermint is very cooling and soothing.²
• Comfrey: Place one oz. of dried comfrey root in a pan. Add 1 pint of water, bring to a boil and then turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Cool and strain. Use cotton gauze to apply to the burned areas.²
• Potato: Here is one of those home remedies for burns that is easy and always available. Cut a potato in half and smooth over the sunburned skin, or grate the potato and make a poultice before applying to the skin. The potato is soothing and the vitamins and minerals it contains are essential for healing.²
• Splash plain ole' vinegar on the sunburned skin. Just plain, cheapo, white vinegar will do. Repeat this treatment every 20 minutes or so, or until relief is felt. This is one of the most inexpensive home remedies for burns! Most people keep vinegar on hand at all times.¹²
• Put Natural Vitamin E-Oil on the sunburn. Many people testify to the benefit of using Vitamin E Oil for sunburn. Simply apply to the sunburn, and then reapply when needed.¹²
• Witch Hazel is also a great home remedy for sunburn. Just splash some witch hazel on the burned skin and feel the coolness. Witch hazel is also one of the best home remedies for burns, so it's probably a good idea to keep some on hand.
• Oatmeal compresses are an old home remedy for sunburn. Wrap dry oatmeal in a gauze or cheesecloth, run cool water over it and apply to burned areas.⁵
• Baking soda baths are a common home remedy for sunburn. Baking soda is cheap too! Sprinkle baking soda into your bath for cooling relief.
• Probiotioc Yogurt can help soothe the sting of a sunburn. Gently smooth plain yogurt over the burned skin.⁵



How do YOU treat burns or sunburn at home?

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treating burns with vanilla extract  Not rated yet
I was told this remedy by a friend. works amazingly well and instantly if treated immediately. not all vanilla extracts work as well as others. so far ...

Tomatoes  Not rated yet
Apply tomatoes for light burns on skin like when frying fish. It is very soothing for the skin and leaves no scars. It is rich in antioxidnts like vitamins ...

Vitamin E on my 5 year old's face  Not rated yet
About 18 years ago, we took our 3 kids snow skiing for the first time. Our youngest was 3 or 4. It didn't dawn on me that his sun screen was rubbed off ...

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