Toothpaste is not sterile and may encourage bacteria to spread into the burn. Some people believe applying toothpaste to a burn site can help. A person can experience a cold burn after exposing their skin to ice. However, ice can cause more harm than good and may further irritate burned skin. Many people turn to ice before cool water to help with a burn, thinking that the cold temperature of the ice will do a more effective job in cooling the burned skin. It is likely that the egg will spread more bacteria into the burn, which may increase the risk of infection. However, people should not apply egg whites to burn wounds at home. Limited studies report that topical solutions containing egg whites may help burn healing. No scientific evidence supports butter as a burn treatment, and people should not use it as such. However, butter can trap heat, which may make the burn worse. Many people think that rubbing butter over a burn will promote faster healing. Some suggestions are ineffective, but they could also make a burn worse.Ī person should avoid the following remedies when looking to soothe a burn. It’s crucial to reapply sunblock every two hours, Gladstone says.Ĭhoosing sunblock offers better protection against UVA and UVB rays that can cause burns and skin cancer, he adds, recommending products containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.Many home remedies are anecdotal, and there is no evidence to support their effectiveness. A broad spectrum, water-resistant sunblock of at least SPF 30 is best, and frequent reapplication is key.” “Sunburns can be prevented through the regular application of sunblock. “Many people develop second-degree burns from extended exposure to the sun,” Ellis says. While accidents leading to second-degree burns sometimes cannot be avoided, there are measures swimmers can take to prevent second-degree burns from the sun. With treatment, second-degree burns usually heal with little or no scarring within about three weeks, Ellis says. “Initially applying an antibiotic ointment for the first 48 to 72 hours twice per day to the burn and using Vaseline or Aquaphor at least twice per day will help reduce the risk of infection and aid in healing,” he adds. Apply a healing ointment such as Vaseline, Vaniply Ointment, or CeraVe Healing Ointment and apply a bandage.įor those who do not have an allergy to sulfa, a silver sulfadiazine cream such as Silvadene can be prescribed, Gladstone says. Ploch recommends washing wounds daily with warm water and a mild soap, followed by a rinse and a pat dry. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be taken to help control pain and swelling.” “Antibacterial cream and a nonstick dressing or bandage applied and changed daily can be used to prevent infection. “Ice should never be applied directly on a burn,” she says. Swimmers should first treat a blister or second-degree burn by soaking it with cold water- a cold compress-held to the skin to decrease pain, Ellis says. Swimming after a second-degree burn can lead to complications when chemicals penetrate the layer of disrupted skin and cause problems with healing and possibly lead to infection, Ellis says. “However, there is still bacteria in a chlorinated pool, and the chlorine can cause further irritation of the skin,” he adds. Gladstone says there is a higher risk of infection with open water swimming. “Exposing broken skin to the chemicals in pool water or the high salt content of ocean water can cause irritation and possible infection,” she says. Swim practice with broken skin should be avoided, whether it’s done in a chlorinated pool or the open water, Ellis says. Gladstone, president of the Gladstone Clinic in San Ramon, Calif., and former director and associate professor of dermatologic surgery at Stanford University. There could be a higher risk of infection if you swim before the burn is fully healed, says Hayes B. If you don’t want to wear a waterproof bandage, you should avoid swimming until the burn is fully healed and no blistered or broken skin remains, says Dana Ellis, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Newport Beach, Calif., who represented Canada in the pole vault at the 2004 Olympic Games. Otherwise, the wait time depends on where the wound is located and its width, as some body areas heal faster than others, she adds. You can swim with burns while wearing a waterproof bandage within one to two days of the injury, says Lauren Ploch, a board-certified dermatologist in Augusta, Ga. Whether from too much sun or an accident that causes damage to your skin and deeper tissues, a second-degree burn is not only painful but can sideline swim practice until the skin is healed.
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