Coconut oil is the very good form of natural treatment for burns and is used to deal with the treatment of these painful skin conditions. Coconut oil has very crucial properties that do make it effective for not only treating burns but also preventing secondary infections, moisturizing one’s skin, speeding up the healing process, as well as minimizing permanent scarring or marks from one’s burns.
Burns are rather typically classified as first-, second- or even third-degree burns thus moving from least to most severe types. First-degree burns usually do affect the outer layer of one’s skin, such as sunburn, whereas the second-degree burns do extend a few layers deeper, resulting in more pain and also possibly affecting one’s blood vessels as well as nerves. Third-degree burns do require specialized care, and may also include hospitalization.
Coconut oil is indeed recommended as a treatment for first-degree burns and some second-degree burns, which do include sunburns, water burns, rope burns, minor chemical burns, acid burns, as well as radiation burns.
No doubt, third-degree burns are often life-threatening and need to be treated in official burn units by specialists. Coconut oils can also be made use of after its formal medical treatment for third-degree burns in order to help minimize scarring. Yet, it must not be used as a first-response treatment to for severe injuries, which so often result from being in a fire or even experiencing serious chemical burns.
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Benefits of Coconut Oil for Burns
Coconut oil can indeed deliver a number of important benefits for those people who suffer from burns of different sorts and that are severe in nature. This does include protecting against infections as well as increasing the rate of healing, soothing pain and no doubt inflammation, keeping the area moisturized as well as cool and also reduces scarring.
Relieves Pain
Research has rather shown that coconut oil contains an analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory properties, which do help in soothing the discomfort as well as pain caused by burns of all types. This is also mainly on account of the vitamin E that is found in coconut oil which is also known as tocopherol.
Protects Immune System
The rich content of medium-chain fatty acids is found in this oil, namely lauric, capric and caprylic acids, which have antibacterial as well as antiseptic qualities that can also protect the exposed burns from several pathogens, irritants and pollutants from the external environment. One of the biggest risk factors that complicate burns is the risk of infection; applying coconut oil can, of course, reduce one’s susceptibility to these dangerous secondary infections.
Speeds up Healing
Coconut oil tends to penetrate deeply and also increase the rate of growth as well as healing of damaged skin cells. The vitamins and polyphenols in this oil can indeed reduce oxidative stress in these already damaged cells and also significantly speed up the healing process, thus making for a quicker recovery. Coconut oil does stimulate the flow of blood to the burned areas, which does bring oxygen as well as nutrients where they are required most.
Moisturizes Skin
Coconut oil can penetrate the skin deeply, thus making it particularly effective for second-degree burns as well as rope burns, which often peel off multiple layers of one’s skin. By delivering required moisture to these exposed areas, it can also prevent dryness and the accompanying pain, while providing soothing comfort, especially when applied rapidly following the event of a burn.
Reduces Scar
This oil is high in antioxidant vitamins and polyphenolic compounds, which can promote collagen cross-linking and strengthen the dermal tissue to promote regrowth and healing. [8] It can minimize the appearance of scarring, which so often results from burns. While it won’t be able to prevent all scarring from a burn, coconut oil can reduce it and leave the new skin with full elasticity, rather than giving it a wrinkled or leathery appearance.
How to Use Coconut Oil For Curing Burns?
You can use virgin organic coconut oil for burns by gently applying the oil – generously and frequently – to the affected areas. It is also recommended that you use other essential oils in conjunction with the base oil to further promote healing and reduce inflammation. Lavender oil or (very small) amounts of tea tree oil are excellent, as these are disinfectant in nature.
Before treating your burn with coconut oil, it is wise to run the burn under cold water for a few minutes, which will soothe the pain and clear out any other irritants and substances that may have entered the burn. This will partially numb the area for a short amount of time. This also helps to prevent scarring in the area, as it quickly stimulates blood flow to the area.
Immediately following this, generously apply the oil mixture to the site of the burn; there is no need to rub or massage the oil into the area. Simply allow it to permeate the skin.
Leave the oil mixture on the skin for 10-15 minutes before gently washing it off with water. If possible, allow the entire mixture to soak into the skin, and try not to move or twist the burned ar