How to Treat a Burn Using Honey
Recognize a first-degree burn., Recognize a second-degree burn., Know what a third-degree burn is like., Run cold water over the burn., Pour medicinal honey over the burned area., Spread the honey around., Wrap the burned area with dressing., Get...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Recognize a first-degree burn.
Burns can happen pretty easily.
You can get burned by heat, fire, the sun, electricity, boiling liquids like water, sauces and other foods, and chemicals.
A first-degree burn is the least severe, affecting the topmost layers of your skin.
A first-degree burn will be red and painful.
It turns white when you put pressure on it.
This type of burn usually heals within 3-6 days.
The skin may peel during healing.
There is usually little to no scarring. -
Step 2: Recognize a second-degree burn.
A second-degree burn is more severe than a first-degree burn.
It affects deeper layers of the skin.
It will be red or splotchy, swollen and very painful.
There may be blisters.
This type of burn usually heals within 2-3 weeks.
You may have some scarring.
If your burn is any larger than about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters), see your doctor immediately. , Third-degree burns are the deepest and most serious burns.
They damage all the layers of the skin.
The skin may be whitish (charred) or black.
Third-degree burns require immediate medical attention.
Do not attempt to treat this type of burn on your own.
Third-degree burns are not usually painful because the nerves have been damaged.
These burns may take months to heal and may scar during healing. , Immediately after getting burned, use cold, running water to cool the area to a comfortable level.
Do this for at least 5 minutes.
Second-degree burns should be cooled for at least 15 minutes.Do not apply ice to the burned area. , Use medicinal honey to cover the entire burned area and onto the surrounding, undamaged tissue.
Don’t skimp on the honey.
You want to have a pretty thick layer of honey over the wound.
Depending on where the burn is, try to have the honey about ¼ inch thick (about ½ centimeter).
Use medicinal honey if possible.
Examples of medicinal honeys are manuka honey from New Zealand and Medihoney from Germany.If you can’t find medicinal honey, a good choice is organic, unfiltered raw honey.
Don’t use regular honey from the grocery store.Avoid using rhododendron-based honey.
It can contain toxins known as grayanotoxins and is known as “Mad Honey” because it has been known to cause lightheadedness and hallucinations. , Use a thin plastic bag, sandwich bag or wooden ice cream stick to gently spread the honey over the burned area and surrounding skin. , Use a clean, dry gauze bandage or a non-stick dressing like Telfa.
Cover the burned area completely with the dressing.
Hold it in place with medical adhesive tape., If you have received a large second-degree burn (larger than 1 inch or
2.5 centimeters), or you have a third-degree burn, get medical attention right away.
For second-degree burns, you should still cool the burn with cold, running water for 15 minutes, or until help arrives. , All electrical, chemical and radiation burns (with the exception of mild sunburn) should be treated by medical professionals as soon as possible.
A chemical burn should be flushed with cool, running water for at least 5 minutes.
Get medical attention immediately. , Make sure you have clean hands before changing the dressing on your burn.
If your hand is burned, ask someone to help you.
Have them wash their hands with soap and water first. , If any loose skin sticks to the dressing, let it pull away from the burned area.Studies have shown that honey helps loosen and separate skin more easily and without pain, so this should be relatively easy to do.Throw away the old dressing. , Examine the burn area and look for signs of infection.
This might include:
Pus or discharge Swellings filled with anything but clear fluid (if the skin has blistered, leave the blister intact) Reddish streaks which radiate from the injury Fever , If you think you have an infection but it seems minor, you can use a triple-antibiotic cream/ointment on it, though the honey generally prevents infections.
If you think you may have a more serious infection (for example, you are running a fever or you see red streaks), contact your healthcare professional immediately. , Removing tissue (loose skin) from the burned area can cause further damage such as scarring.
There is no need to remove tissue that remains on the burned area after you’ve removed the dressing.
Let your body do the work.
The tissue will fall off normally, and the honey will speed up this process. , The honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
It can prevent infections most of the time.The honey forms a protective barrier over the area, and removing it will expose the vulnerable tissue.
Leave the honey on the injured area. , Use as much honey as is needed to cover over the burn area.
Use enough to make a ¼ inch thick layer (about ½ centimeter). , Use gauze or Telfa to cover the burned area completely.
Secure with medical adhesive tape. , Keep changing the dressing and applying more honey every day.
Watch for the wound to look pinkish and bumpy. , Every day, leave the dressing off for 1-2 hours.
This will allow the injured area to get some air.
Then, reapply honey and a fresh dressing of gauze or Telfa. , A first-degree burn should heal within a week.
A small second-degree burn should heal within 2 weeks.
Once the burn is healed, wash off the honey with cool running water.
If a burn is taking longer than 2 weeks to heal, see your doctor to have the burn checked. -
Step 3: Know what a third-degree burn is like.
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Step 4: Run cold water over the burn.
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Step 5: Pour medicinal honey over the burned area.
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Step 6: Spread the honey around.
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Step 7: Wrap the burned area with dressing.
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Step 8: Get immediate medical attention for major burns.
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Step 9: Get immediate medical attention for electrical
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Step 10: chemical and radiation burns.
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Step 11: Wash your hands.
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Step 12: Gently remove the dressing.
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Step 13: Check for infection.
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Step 14: Apply antibiotic ointment if you want to.
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Step 15: Do not remove tissue from the burn.
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Step 16: Don’t wash off any honey.
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Step 17: Add more honey to the burned area.
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Step 18: Apply a fresh dressing.
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Step 19: Change the dressing daily.
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Step 20: Give your burn some air.
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Step 21: Wash off the honey.
Detailed Guide
Burns can happen pretty easily.
You can get burned by heat, fire, the sun, electricity, boiling liquids like water, sauces and other foods, and chemicals.
A first-degree burn is the least severe, affecting the topmost layers of your skin.
A first-degree burn will be red and painful.
It turns white when you put pressure on it.
This type of burn usually heals within 3-6 days.
The skin may peel during healing.
There is usually little to no scarring.
A second-degree burn is more severe than a first-degree burn.
It affects deeper layers of the skin.
It will be red or splotchy, swollen and very painful.
There may be blisters.
This type of burn usually heals within 2-3 weeks.
You may have some scarring.
If your burn is any larger than about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters), see your doctor immediately. , Third-degree burns are the deepest and most serious burns.
They damage all the layers of the skin.
The skin may be whitish (charred) or black.
Third-degree burns require immediate medical attention.
Do not attempt to treat this type of burn on your own.
Third-degree burns are not usually painful because the nerves have been damaged.
These burns may take months to heal and may scar during healing. , Immediately after getting burned, use cold, running water to cool the area to a comfortable level.
Do this for at least 5 minutes.
Second-degree burns should be cooled for at least 15 minutes.Do not apply ice to the burned area. , Use medicinal honey to cover the entire burned area and onto the surrounding, undamaged tissue.
Don’t skimp on the honey.
You want to have a pretty thick layer of honey over the wound.
Depending on where the burn is, try to have the honey about ¼ inch thick (about ½ centimeter).
Use medicinal honey if possible.
Examples of medicinal honeys are manuka honey from New Zealand and Medihoney from Germany.If you can’t find medicinal honey, a good choice is organic, unfiltered raw honey.
Don’t use regular honey from the grocery store.Avoid using rhododendron-based honey.
It can contain toxins known as grayanotoxins and is known as “Mad Honey” because it has been known to cause lightheadedness and hallucinations. , Use a thin plastic bag, sandwich bag or wooden ice cream stick to gently spread the honey over the burned area and surrounding skin. , Use a clean, dry gauze bandage or a non-stick dressing like Telfa.
Cover the burned area completely with the dressing.
Hold it in place with medical adhesive tape., If you have received a large second-degree burn (larger than 1 inch or
2.5 centimeters), or you have a third-degree burn, get medical attention right away.
For second-degree burns, you should still cool the burn with cold, running water for 15 minutes, or until help arrives. , All electrical, chemical and radiation burns (with the exception of mild sunburn) should be treated by medical professionals as soon as possible.
A chemical burn should be flushed with cool, running water for at least 5 minutes.
Get medical attention immediately. , Make sure you have clean hands before changing the dressing on your burn.
If your hand is burned, ask someone to help you.
Have them wash their hands with soap and water first. , If any loose skin sticks to the dressing, let it pull away from the burned area.Studies have shown that honey helps loosen and separate skin more easily and without pain, so this should be relatively easy to do.Throw away the old dressing. , Examine the burn area and look for signs of infection.
This might include:
Pus or discharge Swellings filled with anything but clear fluid (if the skin has blistered, leave the blister intact) Reddish streaks which radiate from the injury Fever , If you think you have an infection but it seems minor, you can use a triple-antibiotic cream/ointment on it, though the honey generally prevents infections.
If you think you may have a more serious infection (for example, you are running a fever or you see red streaks), contact your healthcare professional immediately. , Removing tissue (loose skin) from the burned area can cause further damage such as scarring.
There is no need to remove tissue that remains on the burned area after you’ve removed the dressing.
Let your body do the work.
The tissue will fall off normally, and the honey will speed up this process. , The honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
It can prevent infections most of the time.The honey forms a protective barrier over the area, and removing it will expose the vulnerable tissue.
Leave the honey on the injured area. , Use as much honey as is needed to cover over the burn area.
Use enough to make a ¼ inch thick layer (about ½ centimeter). , Use gauze or Telfa to cover the burned area completely.
Secure with medical adhesive tape. , Keep changing the dressing and applying more honey every day.
Watch for the wound to look pinkish and bumpy. , Every day, leave the dressing off for 1-2 hours.
This will allow the injured area to get some air.
Then, reapply honey and a fresh dressing of gauze or Telfa. , A first-degree burn should heal within a week.
A small second-degree burn should heal within 2 weeks.
Once the burn is healed, wash off the honey with cool running water.
If a burn is taking longer than 2 weeks to heal, see your doctor to have the burn checked.
About the Author
Amy Edwards
Enthusiastic about teaching practical skills techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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