How to Heal Chemical Relaxer Burns

Chemical relaxer burns occur when the scalp is exposed to lye or no-lye relaxer for a long amount of time. Most women have experienced a run in with chemical relaxer burns at one time or another in their lifetime. If you are currently experiencing complications from scalp burns from a chemical relaxer, follow these directions to aid the healing process.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. The first thing you need to do in order to aid in the healing process of chemical relaxer burns is to ignore the compulsion to scratch and/or pick at your scab. This will usually be your first reaction due to the constant itching or odd "presence" on your scalp.
   
   If you have undergone a chemical relaxer burn, you will feel a patchy, scaly, gritty or bumpy substance on your scalp. This is actually a scab from the chemical burn your scalp has suffered. Your scalp is just like any other piece of skin on your body. It will scab

2. Next, you will need to somewhat detangle the hair that is surrounding and within the scalp burn.
   
   Take a wide-tooth comb and start combing from the ends of the hair, and get as close as you can to your scalp without aggravating the scalp burn. In all honesty, the scalp burn will heal regardless, but your hair strands will break off rather than give way to the pull and tug between the comb and the scab from the scalp burn.

3. Apply an antibacterial ointment to a clean cotton swab, and gently apply it directly to the chemical scalp burns.
   
   Any kind of disinfecting, skin healing ointment will do the trick (Neosporin, Burt's Bees Res-Q Ointment, etc.). But, nothing trumps natural and free, so your best bet would be to opt for a broken leaf from an aloe vera plant.

4. Continue with your regular hair care regimen, but use caution.
   
   Be gentle when combing and brushing your hair for the next week or so. Also, make sure to shampoo your hair as you normally would, but be careful not to disturb the area with scalp burns. Do not use hair care products containing alcohol as they may burn and cause further irritation to the scalp burns.
   
   After a few shampoos you will notice that the scab from chemical relaxer burn has fallen off, and your scalp can return to its healthy status.

[Rachellewms]

on 8/8/2009 jbarriere: you can apply a protective coat of Vaseline before you apply the relaxer to prevent chemical burns. If you have already gotten chemical burns, you can try something soothing to the skin like aloe vera, or Neosporin.

[qcandleco]

on 8/7/2009 love your articles!

[jbarriere]

on 8/7/2009 thanks so much. i tried to do my own perm because i did not want to pay 60 dollars in the salon to get it straightened, and i couldn't find anything helpful online.
is there anything i can apply to the area?