Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of BurnsCool Water and CompressesAloe VeraHoneyCalendulaOver-the-Counter RemediesAvoid Sun ExposureUsing Natural RemediesBurn Remedies to AvoidSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Burns
Cool Water and Compresses
Aloe Vera
Honey
Calendula
Over-the-Counter Remedies
Avoid Sun Exposure
Using Natural Remedies
Burn Remedies to Avoid
Summary
While home burn remedies may offer certain benefits, it’s important to remember that sometypes of burnsrequire medical attention.
This article explains the difference betweenfirst-, second-, and third-degree burnsand lists three natural burn remedies to consider.
Anthony Rosenberg / Getty Images
First- and second-degree burns are considered minor burns. Third-degree burns are considered major burns.When it comes totreating burnsat home, the level of severity of the burn is of the utmost importance:
If in Doubt, Reach OutIf you have a third-degree burn, or you’re in doubt about the severity of your burn, contact a medical provider immediately.
If in Doubt, Reach Out
If you have a third-degree burn, or you’re in doubt about the severity of your burn, contact a medical provider immediately.
Natural burn remedies are best suited for treating first- and second-degree burns. There are several home remedies to consider and studies suggest that aloe vera, honey, and calendula may aid in treating these burns.
Any of these remedies (especially honey) should not be applied to children with burns. Children who have any type of burn should be seen at urgent care or an emergency department.
Aloe verahas long been used to speed up the healing of first- and second-degree burns. In fact, one study found that people who used aloe vera on a burn healed faster than those who used another traditional remedy: petroleum jelly covered in gauze.However, this study is almost three decades old and hasn’t been replicated.
To soothe pain and stave off blisters andscarring, apply aloe vera gel directly to the burn once or twice daily until it’s fully healed. If you can’t find such a gel at the store, you may find the plant (a succulent known asAloe barbadensis)at a store or garden center. In this case, cut a leaf with a knife, squeeze out the transparent pulp, and apply it to the skin.
Chill Out With Aloe VeraThe cooling, soothing, and moisturizing abilities of aloe vera make it ideal for treating another type of skin discomfort, too: sunburn.
Chill Out With Aloe Vera
The cooling, soothing, and moisturizing abilities of aloe vera make it ideal for treating another type of skin discomfort, too: sunburn.
Honey has been shown to reduce pain and is thought to reduce the risk of infection and inflammation and therefore healing times.This may be because honey is acidic, so it may lower the pH of a burn, blunting bacterial growth. The sugar in honey may also dry up bacteria.
However, call your healthcare provider first and get the all-clear that your particular brand of honey will not irritate your skin; some brands could.
Another option? Skip the phone call and buy a jar ofmanuka honey. This expensive honey is so well-known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that it is used in manuka honey bandages.
A flower found to possess anti-inflammatory properties,calendulashows promise in the treatment of first- and second-degree burns.
It is often confused with the marigold, and both are indeed members of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family. The difference is that marigolds are members of theTagetesgenus while calendula belongs to theCalendulagenus.
However, more research needs to be done before calendula is confirmed as an effective burn remedy.
Major burns need urgent medical attention to reduce the risk of scarring, disability, and deformity.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) may help with pain. Read the package label for dosage information.
Applying petroleum jelly to a first- or second-degree burn may help the healing process. Cover the burn with a sterile, non-stick bandage or gauze that can be held in place with tape or wrap.
Watch the Very Young and OldMost people experience a skin burn at some point in their lifetime. Try to prevent burns in young children and older adults because they’re more likely to occur in these age groups.
Watch the Very Young and Old
Most people experience a skin burn at some point in their lifetime. Try to prevent burns in young children and older adults because they’re more likely to occur in these age groups.
There are also some burn remedies that are not recommended, such as:
These substances may irritate the burn (potentially making it worse) or cause the burn to get infected.
To the layman’s eye, any type of burn may look serious. But it pays to know the difference between first-, second-, and third-degree burns. Recognizing third-degree burns is especially important because the long-term consequences of delaying treatment can be serious.
Short-term treatment choices include home remedies such as cool water, aloe vera, honey, calendula, and OTC medications. Evidence exists to support the use of each one. But before you reach for honey, call your healthcare provider. The ingredients in some processed honey may interfere with its healing properties.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Burns and wounds.Rowan MP, Cancio LC, Elster EA, et al.Burn wound healing and treatment: review and advancements.Crit Care. 2015;19:243. doi:10.1186/s13054-015-0961-2MedlinePlus.Minor burns - aftercare.Visuthikosol V, Chowchuen B, Sukwanarat Y, Sriurairatana S, Boonpucknavig V.Effect of aloe vera gel to healing of burn wound a clinical and histologic study.J Med Assoc Thai. 1995 Aug;78(8):403-9. PMID: 7561562.NC State Extension. North Carolina Plant Toolbox.Aloe vera.Zbuchea A.Up-to-date use of honey for burns treatment.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2014 Mar 31;27(1):22-30. PMID: 25249844Science Focus.Can you use honey to treat a burn?Gardening Know How.Marigold vs. calendula – difference between marigolds and calendulas.Rezai S, Rahzani K, Hekmatpou D, Rostami A.Effect of oralCalendula officinalison second-degree burn wound healing.Scars Burn Heal. 2023 Jan 4;9:20595131221134053. doi: 10.1177/20595131221134053American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat a first-degree, minor burn.American Academy of Family Physicians.Burn injuries: what you should know.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Burns and wounds.Rowan MP, Cancio LC, Elster EA, et al.Burn wound healing and treatment: review and advancements.Crit Care. 2015;19:243. doi:10.1186/s13054-015-0961-2MedlinePlus.Minor burns - aftercare.Visuthikosol V, Chowchuen B, Sukwanarat Y, Sriurairatana S, Boonpucknavig V.Effect of aloe vera gel to healing of burn wound a clinical and histologic study.J Med Assoc Thai. 1995 Aug;78(8):403-9. PMID: 7561562.NC State Extension. North Carolina Plant Toolbox.Aloe vera.Zbuchea A.Up-to-date use of honey for burns treatment.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2014 Mar 31;27(1):22-30. PMID: 25249844Science Focus.Can you use honey to treat a burn?Gardening Know How.Marigold vs. calendula – difference between marigolds and calendulas.Rezai S, Rahzani K, Hekmatpou D, Rostami A.Effect of oralCalendula officinalison second-degree burn wound healing.Scars Burn Heal. 2023 Jan 4;9:20595131221134053. doi: 10.1177/20595131221134053American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat a first-degree, minor burn.American Academy of Family Physicians.Burn injuries: what you should know.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Burns and wounds.Rowan MP, Cancio LC, Elster EA, et al.Burn wound healing and treatment: review and advancements.Crit Care. 2015;19:243. doi:10.1186/s13054-015-0961-2MedlinePlus.Minor burns - aftercare.Visuthikosol V, Chowchuen B, Sukwanarat Y, Sriurairatana S, Boonpucknavig V.Effect of aloe vera gel to healing of burn wound a clinical and histologic study.J Med Assoc Thai. 1995 Aug;78(8):403-9. PMID: 7561562.NC State Extension. North Carolina Plant Toolbox.Aloe vera.Zbuchea A.Up-to-date use of honey for burns treatment.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2014 Mar 31;27(1):22-30. PMID: 25249844Science Focus.Can you use honey to treat a burn?Gardening Know How.Marigold vs. calendula – difference between marigolds and calendulas.Rezai S, Rahzani K, Hekmatpou D, Rostami A.Effect of oralCalendula officinalison second-degree burn wound healing.Scars Burn Heal. 2023 Jan 4;9:20595131221134053. doi: 10.1177/20595131221134053American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat a first-degree, minor burn.American Academy of Family Physicians.Burn injuries: what you should know.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Burns and wounds.
Rowan MP, Cancio LC, Elster EA, et al.Burn wound healing and treatment: review and advancements.Crit Care. 2015;19:243. doi:10.1186/s13054-015-0961-2
MedlinePlus.Minor burns - aftercare.
Visuthikosol V, Chowchuen B, Sukwanarat Y, Sriurairatana S, Boonpucknavig V.Effect of aloe vera gel to healing of burn wound a clinical and histologic study.J Med Assoc Thai. 1995 Aug;78(8):403-9. PMID: 7561562.
NC State Extension. North Carolina Plant Toolbox.Aloe vera.
Zbuchea A.Up-to-date use of honey for burns treatment.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2014 Mar 31;27(1):22-30. PMID: 25249844
Science Focus.Can you use honey to treat a burn?
Gardening Know How.Marigold vs. calendula – difference between marigolds and calendulas.
Rezai S, Rahzani K, Hekmatpou D, Rostami A.Effect of oralCalendula officinalison second-degree burn wound healing.Scars Burn Heal. 2023 Jan 4;9:20595131221134053. doi: 10.1177/20595131221134053
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat a first-degree, minor burn.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Burn injuries: what you should know.
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