Pain Relief for Burns

Burns of any kind are generally painful injuries. The most serious burns are painless. There are all types of remedies and treatments used for pain relief. Knowing what the best pain relief method is for the type of burn you have can be important.

First Degree

First-degree burns are the least painful because they only involve the outer layer of skin. In addition, they are also the easiest to treat with pain. Providing the injured person with Tylenol, ibuprofen or naproxen is usually enough. Topical ointments, such as Lidocaine, can help with pain relief.

Second Degree

Second-degree burns occur when the top layer of skin has burned through and the second layer of skin has also been burned. Second-degree burns can be particularly painful. The Mayo Clinic reports that if a second-degree burn is no larger than 3 inches you can treat it as a minor burn. Pain relief for a minor burn is the same as for a first-degree burn. If the burn is more serious get medical help. The physician may prescribe pain medication (such as Vicodin or Percocet).

Third Degree

A third-degree burn is the most serious type of burn. It involves all layers of skin. The Mayo Clinic reports that these burns may not cause any pain at all because of damage to nerves. They do require immediate medical attention. If pain is evident, depending on the degree of pain, a physician can prescribe an oral or IV pain medication such as Vicodin, Percocet or morphine. Other medications (such as Silvadene) will be used to keep the burn from worsening and helping to promote healing.

Sun Burn

A bad sunburn can be very painful. One of the best ways to relieve mild sunburn is to take a cold shower or a cool bath with oatmeal mixed in the water. Many people use over-the-counter topical agents such as Lidocaine. If the burn is very severe seek medical treatment. Your physician can prescribe a medication to help with pain.

Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies

Herbal remedies can offer a small degree of pain relief for minor burns. They cannot be used on more severe burns. Some common treatments for minor burns are witch hazel, which can help control the pain and cool the burn. The Earth Clinic reports that using raw honey on a burn can also act as a pain reliever. Calendula is a gel that is another homeopathic remedy. Simply splashing cold water on a minor burn can also help to cool the burn and control the pain.

References

• The Mayo Clinic; Burns: First Aid; 2009;
• The Earth Clinic; Burn Remedy; 2009;