Skin Burns

There are varying degrees of skin burns. Mild burns can be treated at home.  More severe burns require medical attention and can even be life threatening.  Below is some research.

Recipes to Help with Burns

Aloe Slushy For Sun Burned Skin

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RESEARCH

The listings of research below represents a compilation of scientific articles found on the topic, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  This compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use of any herb listed.

ALOE

• In this mega review, studies point towards aloe being effective in treating burns; more research is needed.  From:  Maenthaisong, R., Chaiyakunapruk, N., Niruntraporn, S., & Kongkaew, C. (2007). The efficacy of aloe vera used for burn wound healing: a systematic review. burns, 33(6), 713-718.
• In a burn wound clinic, burns treated with aloe healed faster than those treated with vasoline.  From:  Visuthikosol, V., Chowchuen, B., Sukwanarat, Y., Sriurairatana, S., & Boonpucknavig, V. (1995). Effect of aloe vera gel to healing of burn wound a clinical and histologic study. J Med Assoc Thai, 78(8), 403-9.
• Burn wounds treated with aloe healed better than those treated with silver sulphadiazine.  From:  Shahzad, M. N., & Ahmed, N. (2013). Effectiveness of Aloe vera gel compared with 1% silver sulphadiazine cream as burn wound dressing in second degree burns. J Pak Med Assoc, 63(2), 225-30.
• This article provided a review of research on aloe and wound healing.  From:  Vera, A. (1989). Wound healing, oral & topical activity of Aloe vera. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 79, 559-562.
• This study showed aloesin derivatives as active components in the wound healing capabilities of aloe.  From:  Yagi, A., Kabash, A., Okamura, N., Haraguchi, H., Moustafa, S. M., & Khalifa, T. I. (2002). Antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects of aloesin derivatives in Aloe vera. Planta medica, 68(11), 957-960.
• In 40 healthy adults, test areas of the back were overexposed to ultraviolet light. A formulation with Aloe vera showed the highest anti-inflammatory effect. Formulations with Chamomilla recutita, Melissa officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia and Coriandrum sativum showed some anti-inflammatory effect. From: Beikert, F. C., Schönfeld, B. S., Frank, U., & Augustin, M. (2013). Antiinflammatory potential of seven plant extracts in the ultraviolet erythema test. A randomized, placebo-controlled study. Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete, 64(1), 40-46.

CHAMOMILE

• Chamomile extract as a rubbing oil accelerated burn wound healing in rats.  From:  Jarrahi, M. (2008). An experimental study of the effects of Matricaria chamomilla extract on cutaneous burn wound healing in albino rats. Natural product research, 22(5), 422-427.   
• In 40 healthy adults, test areas of the back were overexposed to ultraviolet light. A formulation with Aloe vera showed the highest anti-inflammatory effect. Formulations with Chamomilla recutita, Melissa officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia and Coriandrum sativum showed some anti-inflammatory effect. From: Beikert, F. C., Schönfeld, B. S., Frank, U., & Augustin, M. (2013). Antiinflammatory potential of seven plant extracts in the ultraviolet erythema test. A randomized, placebo-controlled study. Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete, 64(1), 40-46.

CORIANDER

• In 40 healthy adults, test areas of the back were overexposed to ultraviolet light. A formulation with Aloe vera showed the highest anti-inflammatory effect. Formulations with Chamomilla recutita, Melissa officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia and Coriandrum sativum showed some anti-inflammatory effect. From: Beikert, F. C., Schönfeld, B. S., Frank, U., & Augustin, M. (2013). Antiinflammatory potential of seven plant extracts in the ultraviolet erythema test. A randomized, placebo-controlled study. Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete, 64(1), 40-46.

GUAR GUM

• A blend of guar gum hydrogel with peppermint essential oil reduced itching in patients with burn scars in this multicenter controlled study of 74 patients that had severe burns.  From:  Wu, J., Xu, R., Zhan, R., Luo, G., Niu, X., Liu, Y., … & Lau, J. Y. N. (2016). Effective symptomatic treatment for severe and intractable pruritus associated with severe burn-induced hypertrophic scars: A prospective, multicenter, controlled trial. Burns, 42(5), 1059-1066.

HELICHRYSUM

• Flavonoids were active components, reducing UVB induced erythema.  The authors suggested H. italicum may be useful in formulation of burn treatment, radioprotection, and sunscreen products.  From:  Facino, R. M., Carini, M., Mariani, M., & Cipriani, C. (1988). Anti-erythematous and photoprotective activities in guinea pigs and man of topically applied flavonoids from Helichrysum italicum G. Don. Acta Therapeutica, 14(4), 323-345.

LAVENDER

• An in vitro and in vivo studies show a dressing infused with lavender essential oil was anti-inflammatory and promoted burn wound healing.  From:  Hajiali, H., Summa, M., Russo, D., Armirotti, A., Brunetti, V., Bertorelli, R., … & Mele, E. (2016). Alginate–lavender nanofibers with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity to effectively promote burn healing. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 4(9), 1686-1695.

MELISSA

• In 40 healthy adults, test areas of the back were overexposed to ultraviolet light. A formulation with Aloe vera showed the highest anti-inflammatory effect. Formulations with Chamomilla recutita, Melissa officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia and Coriandrum sativum showed some anti-inflammatory effect. From: Beikert, F. C., Schönfeld, B. S., Frank, U., & Augustin, M. (2013). Antiinflammatory potential of seven plant extracts in the ultraviolet erythema test. A randomized, placebo-controlled study. Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete, 64(1), 40-46.

MELALEUCA

• In 40 healthy adults, test areas of the back were overexposed to ultraviolet light. A formulation with Aloe vera showed the highest anti-inflammatory effect. Formulations with Chamomilla recutita, Melissa officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia and Coriandrum sativum showed some anti-inflammatory effect. From: Beikert, F. C., Schönfeld, B. S., Frank, U., & Augustin, M. (2013). Antiinflammatory potential of seven plant extracts in the ultraviolet erythema test. A randomized, placebo-controlled study. Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete, 64(1), 40-46.

OAT

• Based on in vitro and animal studies, avenanthramides from oats were a potent skin anti-itch and anti-inflammatory. From:  Sur, R., Nigam, A., Grote, D., Liebel, F., & Southall, M. D. (2008). Avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats, exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity. Archives of dermatological research, 300(10), 569.
• Colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) has been used for centuries as a topical treatment for various skin conditions and was used in a blind study on twenty-nine female subjects with mild to moderate itching on their dry lower legs. The oatmeal significantly improved skin dryness, texture, and itch intensity.  From:  Michelle Garay, M. S., Judith Nebus, M. B. A., & Menas Kizoulis, B. A. (2015). Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 14(1), 43-48.
• Active colloidal oatmeal moisturizer showed effectiveness in this randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study. From:  Kalaaji, A. N., & Wallo, W. (2014). A randomized controlled clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of an active moisturizing lotion with colloidal oatmeal skin protectant versus its vehicle for the relief of xerosis. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 13(10), 1265-1268.

PEPPERMINT

• A blend of guar gum hydrogel with peppermint essential oil reduced itching in patients with burn scars in this multicenter controlled study of 74 patients that had severe burns.  From:  Wu, J., Xu, R., Zhan, R., Luo, G., Niu, X., Liu, Y., … & Lau, J. Y. N. (2016). Effective symptomatic treatment for severe and intractable pruritus associated with severe burn-induced hypertrophic scars: A prospective, multicenter, controlled trial. Burns, 42(5), 1059-1066.

ROSE

• In a randomized clinical trial of 50 patients with severe burns, aromatherapy with diffused Damask rose significantly reduced pain intensity during and after wound dressing changes.  From: Bikmoradi, A., Harorani, M., Roshanaei, G., Moradkhani, S., & Falahinia, G. H. (2016). The effect of inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose (Rosa damascena) essence on the pain intensity after dressing in patients with burns: A clinical randomized trial. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, 21(3), 247.

THYME

• Thymus oil increased the formation of new tissue in burn wound healing in rats.  From:  Dursun, N., Liman, N., Özyazgan, I., Günes, I., & Saraymen, R. (2003). Role of thymus oil in burn wound healing. Journal of Burn Care & Research, 24(6), 395-399.

Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski

Last Updated: 11/11/19