Skin Cures: Burn Treatments

It is especially important for people who have sustained serious burns to obtain adequate amounts of nutrients in their daily diet. Burn patients in hospitals are often given diets high in calories and protein to speed recovery.

When skin is burned, a substantial percentage of micronutrients, such as copper, selenium, and zinc may be lost. This increases the risk for infection, slows the healing process, prolongs the hospital stay, and even increases the risk of death.

Although it is unclear which micronutrients are most beneficial for people with burns, many studies suggest that a multivitamin including the following nutrients may aid in the recovery process:

• Vitamin B complex
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Arginine
• Glutamine
• Copper
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Antioxidants

Oxidative stress (injury to cells caused by free radicals, which are substances in the blood that result from normal metabolic processes in the body) is believed to contribute significantly to skin and soft tissue damage incurred from a burn. In addition, levels of several antioxidants (substances that protect against the cell damage of free radicals) are measurably lower in burn victims, including beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C, and E. For this reason, antioxidant therapy using, for example, vitamins C and E and carotenoids, is often part of the treatment of burns, particularly soon after the injury takes place. The precise amount and combination to use, however, is not entirely clear.

While there is some evidence that vitamins C and E, both taken orally, work particularly well together in preventing sunburn, it is not clear whether this benefit would be the same for treatment of burns of any cause once they have occurred. In addition, although it is popular during the time of recovery from a burn to use topical vitamin E to try to diminish scar formation, one study found no cosmetic benefit when using topical vitamin E for surgical wounds.

Essential fatty acids (fatty acids that the body does not make and must, therefore, be obtained through the diet) have been used to reduce inflammation and promote wound healing in burn victims. Animal research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids (one class of essential fatty acids) help promote a healthy balance of proteins in the body—protein balance is critical to proper organ function and general health, particularly after sustaining a burn. Further research is necessary to determine whether essential fatty acids have similar effects on protein balance in people who have suffered a burn.

Bromelain, a collection of protein-digesting enzymes found in the stem of pineapple plants, has been used historically to reduce swelling following soft tissue damage. Some studies of animals indicate that bromelain (applied topically) may also be useful in removing dead tissue from third-degree burns. This has not yet been tested on humans.

Herbs Aloe (Aloe vera) -- Aloe has been used for centuries to heal skin lesions and wounds. Aloe contains glycoproteins, protein-carbohydrate compounds that speed the healing process by stopping pain and inflammation, and polysaccharides, a type of carbohydrate that stimulates skin growth and repair.

In one study conducted in Thailand in 1995, 27 people admitted to a hospital for first- and second-degree burns had one half of their burn treated with aloe vera gel and the other half treated with petroleum jelly. The area treated with aloe vera healed significantly faster than the area treated with petroleum jelly, although there were some reports of discomfort and brief pain with the aloe vera gel treatments. These results seem encouraging, however, studies comparing aloe vera with standard medication may help determine whether the herb is as effective for the treatment of burns as more customary therapies.

Honey -- In some traditional medical practices, honey is applied to the skin to prevent infection and heal wounds. Results from two well-designed studies conducted in India suggest that topical applications of honey may heal burns significantly faster than the antimicrobial ointment, silver sulfadiazine.

Some researchers attribute this effect to nutrients in honey that promote skin growth and to antibacterial substances present in honey.

Papaya (Carica papaya) -- In The Gambia, Africa, papaya is used topically to help remove dead tissue from burn wounds and prevent infection. Although the exact mechanism of action is unclear, researchers suggest that papaya contains enzymes that break down the proteins in dead tissue. In addition, papaya is believed to have antimicrobial properties.

Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) -- In Australia, tea tree oil was used by aborigines and early settlers to treat burns. Some reports suggest that the herb may prevent the spread of infection. Modern studies, however, have not confirmed this function for tea tree oil. In fact, a recent study suggests that substances in tea tree oil may even be destructive to skin cells and may actually slow the healing process. Therefore, until more is known about the value of tea tree oil for burns, it is best to avoid use of the herb for this purpose.

Although some herbs used historically have not been researched scientifically, they may be considered by an herbal specialist to treat first-degree burns. Each of the following remedies would be applied topically.

• Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva)
• St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum )
• Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
• Walnut leaf (Juglans reglia)
• Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)
• Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
• Stinging nettle

GREAT SKIN CARE MEDICINE