Burns and scalds
Burns and scalds are damage to the skin caused by heat. They can be very painful and blisters can form on the damaged skin.
Minor burns can be treated at home with cool or lukewarm water and painkillers. More serious burns require hospital treatment.
Burn symptoms:
Burns differ depending on how you got them. Small burns on your hands or arms from cooking may not blister and may not cause any pain 30 minutes after the accident.
Sunburn over a larger area of your body can be very painful and is very likely to blister. It is important to keep any burns clean and free from infection. No further treatment may not be needed. If it is a larger burn, like sunburn, it is important to keep the area moisturised. This helps with the immediate pain and helps to limit the amount of blistering as the skin heals.
More severe burns will need to be treated at a hospital. The treatment will depend on the size and depth of the burn. The standard treatments for burns of this kind is to clean and dress the affected area. Letting the skin repair itself with no further intervention.
Lifestyle tips:
Burns are completely avoidable, but we all have accidents from time to time.
Being careful around the kitchen or at work if you work with hot liquids or surfaces will reduce the risk of a burn. Sun cream should always be used when you will be exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time. Most creams require 30 minutes to soak into the skin to work, and should be reapplied every two hours.
If you do happen to burn yourself it is important to treatment as soon as they happen. Cooling the burn, but not using ice, cleaning and applying moisturisers will help to stop the skin from flaking, blistering or becoming infected.
Diet tips:
Changing your diet slightly can help speed up the recovery process and accelerate the skin’s regeneration.
A temporary increase in your carbohydrate, protein, essential fatty acids and vitamin A and C will help your skin to recover quicker after a burn. Growing new skin requires extra calories and glucose from the carbs and protein, so it is important not to neglect your diet.
Akoma recommends:
It’s recommended to use moisturisers that are high in vitamins and antioxidants to help your skin regenerate cells after burning.
Akoma Palm Oil is naturally pro-vitamin A and vitamin E that keeps the skin healthy along with the linings of some parts of the body, such as the nose. It also has a high concentration of lycopene which is beneficial for the skin’s elasticity.
A deep moisturiser, such as shea butter, can also help to penetrate the three layers of the skin and help encourage recovery. Akoma Shea Butter has unrivalled properties for improving the condition of the skin.
This is due to its principal fatty acids that increase levels of vitamin A and E and antioxidants in the butter. Apply Akoma Shea Butter a few times a day to the affected area, this will help to deeply soothe sore patches and protect against further damage in future.