Burn oils

Everyone knows what burns are. Burn injuries of varying degrees can be sustained at home in the kitchen, when making a fire outdoors, and anywhere else. However, a first aid kit is not always at hand, so the question often arises: what improvised means can be used to alleviate the condition of a burn? For example, will oil help with burns? And if so, which one?

Can you apply oil to a burn?

Experts are divided on whether it is possible to apply oil to a burn.

Many of them believe that applying any oily substances to damaged skin can slow down healing. However, in practice, thousands of people use this method, which is still quite effective: the oil not only relieves pain, but also softens the skin, which promotes faster regeneration. In addition, various oils (in particular, vegetable) are almost always at hand.

Thus, it is possible to use oil preparations for burns. The main thing is to do it correctly, which we will discuss further in our article.

Oils for sunburn

Sunburn is one of the main problems of the hot summer period. In an effort to be beautiful, many people abuse their time in the sun, which subsequently manifests itself in the form of reddening and burning of the skin.

Prolonged exposure to scorching sun rays is considered very harmful to the body. In addition to burns, it can cause heat stroke and even the development of tumor processes in the skin.

Sunburn may not show up right away. It is not uncommon for people to come home from vacation and only discover in the evening that they are “burned.” People with light, sensitive skin are most likely to find themselves in this situation.

What should you do if you get sunburned and there are no pharmacy medications at home?

You can take some olive oil, warm it up in a water bath, cool it down and lubricate the affected skin. Olives have a rich mineral and vitamin composition, including a number of fatty polyunsaturated acids. Thanks to this procedure, the skin softens, a protective film forms on it, preventing moisture from escaping and overdrying the surface layers.

In addition to olive oil, you can also use other unrefined vegetable oils.

Oil for burns from boiling water

It is not advisable to treat a boiling water burn on your own, unless it is superficial and small-area skin damage. In case of a second and especially third degree burn, you should immediately seek medical help.

To speed up the healing of a burn wound, you can use an ointment of your own making. You will only need beeswax and sunflower oil. So, mix 1 tbsp. wax and 3 tbsp. oil, warm and cool. The ointment is ready: now it can be applied to the burn sites up to 4 times a day.

According to user reviews, this ointment reduces pain within a few hours after application, and after a few days the burn site will become invisible.

Indications burn oils

Often people underestimate the danger of a situation related to burns and try to treat themselves without going to the doctor. But it is important to remember that only light superficial burns can be treated at home. For example, oil products can help in the following cases:

• if the area of the burn does not exceed the size of a person’s palm;
• if the skin at the site of the burn has turned red, but is not charred, has not turned white, and does not show signs of complete damage;
• if the burn is not related to the mucous membranes, face, groin area and joints;
• if it is not an electric burn;
• if the victim feels well.

If the burn is small, but it happened to a child, a pregnant woman or an elderly person, then in this case, contacting a doctor should be mandatory and urgent.

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Release form

For a small superficial burn, traditional medicine mainly uses external preparations with a cooling and bactericidal effect - these can be gels or creams. Traditional medicine offers a simpler and more accessible way to treat burns - this is oil therapy. You can use different oils - vegetable, essential, etc. Let's consider the use of the most popular types of oil products.

• Sea buckthorn oil is the most common oil for burns, tested over the years. It successfully heals wounds, prevents inflammation. Such a remedy should definitely be in every home medicine cabinet. When applied to the affected skin, sea buckthorn helps remove excess fluid, thereby eliminating swelling, preventing the growth of bacterial infection, and improving the condition of blood vessels.

In case of burns, it is effective to apply cotton bandages soaked in oil. The procedure should be done in the following sequence:

• the affected skin is cleared of any impurities;
• a bandage with oil is applied;
• fixed with an additional bandage.

The dressings should be repeated daily for a week.

• Coconut oil is a product that is well suited for treating sunburn. Coconut prevents putrefactive processes, accelerates recovery, preventing infection from penetrating into the affected tissues. The product also has a slight analgesic effect.

Regularly, during the first 24 hours after receiving a burn, it is necessary to lubricate the burn surface with coconut oil. Then it will be enough to treat the wound 1-2 times a day.

• Fir oil has a unique composition, which determines its anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties. This remedy is actively used to treat dermatological diseases, it will also help with thermal injuries of the skin: the wound surface is lubricated with fir oil several times a day, possibly under a bandage. The procedure is repeated until complete healing.
• Lavender oil will help not only with sunburn, but also with burns from boiling water or open fire. Special studies have even been conducted regarding the successful use of lavender oil for burns, which have proven that lavender has excellent healing properties. Oil molecules easily penetrate into the deep layers of the skin, which allows you to affect the affected area not only from the outside, but also from the inside.

To treat a burn, it is recommended to lubricate the affected area of skin with undiluted lavender oil. A bandage is applied on top, which should be changed every two hours. After some time, as the burn heals, the wound can be lubricated with an equal mixture of vegetable and lavender oils.

• Butter by itself is unlikely to help treat burns. However, in combination with other components, the softening properties of such a product can be very useful. For example, the following recipe is often used for burns:
  • take 100 g of high-quality butter, mix with 20 g of linseed oil and 40 g of beeswax;
  • the resulting mass is placed in a saucepan and placed on low heat;
  • boil for 5 minutes;
  • The resulting solution is applied to a piece of gauze and applied to the skin damaged by the burn.

This medicine can be used twice a day until the wound is completely healed.

• Flaxseed oil has long been used to relieve pain, heal scratches and inflamed areas of the skin. The main external property of the flaxseed product is its ability to quickly relieve skin irritation. This property is explained by the presence of a large number of natural antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for the body, as well as vitamins and minerals.

Along with external use of flaxseed oil, it is recommended to take it internally, 1 tbsp. in the morning and evening. This will soften the skin and make it more elastic.

• Egg oil is a folk medicine product, widely known in the circles of experienced healers. This oil can be obtained in the following way:
  • Boil the chicken egg for 15 minutes, peel and separate the yolk;
  • stirring, fry the yolk in sunflower oil over low heat until blackened;
  • drain the oil, filter through cheesecloth;
  • use to lubricate burn wounds.

Egg oil promotes tissue regeneration and makes scars less noticeable.

• Apricot cosmetic oil is effective for improving and strengthening the skin. However, the regenerating and toning properties of the oil allow it to be used for treating burns.

Cosmetic oil is rich in vitamins, it helps moisturize, restore, soften and increase the elasticity of the skin, and, in addition, nourishes the deep layers of the skin. Given the listed properties, apricot oil can be confidently used to treat minor burns and cracks in the skin.

• Castor oil is often used to treat sunburn. To do this, apply a mixture of 2 tablespoons of castor oil, 1 tablespoon of soda and salt (on the tip of a knife) to the burn surface.

To soften the hardened skin at the burn site, it is useful to use an equal mixture of castor and olive oils.

• Cumin oil can be called a universal remedy for almost all diseases. Black cumin oil is considered especially useful - it is simply a storehouse of substances necessary for the body. This oil will also be useful for burns.

You can lubricate the affected skin with oil several times a day: such a simple action will strengthen and restore tissue. However, most often, cumin oil is mixed in equal proportions with olive oil. The oil compress is applied to the burn site for 1 hour, then removed. The procedure can be repeated after 2 hours.

• Peach oil is very well absorbed into the skin, does not cause allergies or irritation, and also contains a large number of vitamins, which helps the wound heal faster. However, in order for the burn to leave no trace and heal without complications, it is recommended to use a mixture of oils:
  • take 15 drops of peach oil, 15 drops of lavender oil, mix;
  • soak a piece of bandage in oil and apply to the burn area.

Dressings should be changed every 3 hours until the condition improves significantly.

• Rosehip oil is often used in medicine and is also included in many medicinal and cosmetic products. It contains a large amount of fatty acids that help restore damaged epithelium and restore elasticity and firmness to the skin.

In case of burns, oil in the form of compresses is applied to the affected area for 15-20 minutes. The procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day, daily, until the condition is relieved.

• Almond oil is rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated acids, vitamins, bioflavonoids, and minerals. This composition allows the oil to be used for burns, as well as to strengthen and rejuvenate the skin. For minor burns, almond oil is applied to the affected areas of the skin. You can add 2 drops of tea tree and lavender oils to 1 tablespoon of oil.
• Lily oil contains essential oils, mucous substances, flavonoids. To prepare lily oil yourself, follow this recipe:
  • 100 g of plucked lily petals are poured into a dark glass bottle, 400 ml of boiled sunflower or olive oil are added;
  • the bottle is placed in a dark place for 14 days, after which it is filtered and poured into another dark bottle;
  • Store the medicine in the refrigerator.

Prepared lily oil is used to lubricate burn sites to speed up healing.

• Milk thistle oil is obtained from the seeds of the plant, and its healing properties are explained by the presence of chlorophyll, vitamins, and fatty polyunsaturated acids. Chlorophyll is a well-known remedy used in cosmetology and medicine to stimulate tissue regeneration processes.

Milk thistle oil can be used to heal sluggish wound processes, as this product significantly activates the growth of granulation tissue and improves reparative reactions.

Oil for burns is applied twice a day for 5 days in a row. Already on the 3rd-5th day the condition of the wound improves significantly.

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Pharmacodynamics

When applied to burnt skin, the oils act in approximately the same way:

• cover the wound with a protective film that prevents infection from entering the wound and does not allow moisture to escape from the tissues;
• prevent the formation of edema.

If the oils contain antibacterial components (for example, sea buckthorn, fir, rosehip oil), they also have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Most oil-based products soften the skin, preventing the appearance of scarring.

Essential oils, including eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, and clove oils, have an antiseptic effect. This promotes much faster healing of the wound surface.

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Pharmacokinetics

The oil is not absorbed into the systemic circulation from the surface of the burn wound, but acts as an external agent. For this reason, it is not possible to talk about kinetic properties.

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Dosing and administration

For almost all oils for burns, there are a number of generally accepted recommendations for use:

• Before applying the oil, it is advisable to sterilize it in advance using a water bath;
• the burn surface must be cleaned of dirt, the edges must be treated with iodine (only the edges, not the wound!);
• the burn wound should be treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide as an additional disinfection;
• After the peroxide solution, the wound must be dried for a few minutes;
• Next, you can soak a cotton napkin in cooled oil and apply it to the affected skin.

Additionally, the napkin with oil needs to be secured with a bandage.

It is recommended to change the dressings every 3-4 hours at first, then twice a day. If everything is done correctly, the skin condition will gradually improve, and the wound will heal completely in 4-15 days, depending on the characteristics of the burn.

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Use burn oils during pregnancy

During pregnancy, any illnesses and injuries, including burns, are best treated by a doctor. Of course, if the burn is minor and looks like a slight redness, then you can use oil as first aid.

If blisters appear on the wound, or the burn area is relatively large, then you should only be treated by a doctor. A burn during pregnancy can have negative consequences:

• premature birth or threatened miscarriage as a result of stress in the woman;
• intoxication of the fetus with toxic substances that end up in the bloodstream during an extensive burn.

In case of 2-3 degree burns, it is mandatory to consult a doctor.

Contraindications

Burn oil should never be used:

• for the treatment of large area burns (larger than the area of the palm of the hand);
• for the treatment of burns of mucous membranes, genitals, face, and also joint areas;
• for the treatment of burns of any degree, except I;
• for the treatment of burns caused by electric current;
• for the treatment of burns that are blistered, blackened or whitened;
• in case of suppuration of the wound surface;
• in case of any damage to the integrity of the skin at the site of oil application.

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Side effects burn oils

Sometimes, after applying the oil to the affected skin, the burning sensation may increase. This is temporary and is due to additional irritation of the already irritated skin. The burning sensation should subside after a short time.

If the discomfort does not go away and the redness increases, this may be a sign of an allergic reaction to the oil. In such a situation, the oil must be immediately washed off with cool water and antibacterial soap and a doctor should be consulted.

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Overdose

If you apply a large amount of oil at once, nothing terrible will happen - no oil overdoses have occurred.

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Interactions with other drugs

There are no reliable studies on the interaction of oils with other anti-burn agents for burns, since the use of oils is considered part of folk medicine. For this reason, it is not recommended to combine treatment with oils and other medications: it is better to use such agents separately from each other.

Storage conditions

Most oils are stored at room temperature. The exception is flaxseed oil, which must be stored only in the refrigerator, otherwise it will lose its beneficial properties. Oils cannot be frozen.

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Shelf life

The shelf life of most oils, as well as other natural products, is relatively short. If the storage rules are followed, such periods can be 1-2 years. If the oil packaging states that the product can be stored for several years, this is not always true. Only some highly stable types of oil have a long shelf life - these are jojoba and crambe, which are stored for 3 years or even longer.

Important point: the oil for burns must be of high quality. Otherwise, oxidation products can have a negative and harmful effect on the components of skin cells.