Fine crystalline white powder baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is well known to many housewives. It is used in the preparation of dough, for medical purposes, as a cleaning agent. However, not everyone knows that a soda solution for skin burns is an effective and fast-acting remedy. How and under what damage is sodium bicarbonate used?
Soda has unique properties that can be used by traditional healers in the treatment of various types of burns. Sodium bicarbonate has no restrictions on use, which is especially important in the treatment of burns in children, as well as in people prone to allergic reactions.
Can soda be used for burns?
In folk medicine, baking soda is valued for its antiseptic properties. The sodium bicarbonate solution is very effective for rinsing the oral cavity, throat in inflammatory processes. It is used to treat fluxes, tonsillitis, gingivitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis and other diseases. Sodium bicarbonate easily copes with fungus and pathogens. Thanks to the powerful disinfecting effect, soda helps with burns, acting as an antiseptic.
In case of burn injuries, sodium bicarbonate can be used both in pure form or in combination with other substances. The use of soda in case of skin burn at home prevents the appearance of blisters, relieves pain. For large lesions, a soda solution is used both externally and internally to prevent dehydration.
How does soda work?
By its chemical properties, soda is an alkali. When burned with acids, it is a substance that neutralizes the destruction of the epidermis. In addition, it has a powerful analgesic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory property, which allows it to be used to treat thermal burns.
After getting a burn, cool the damaged area with boiled water and sprinkle it with soda. When the moisture evaporates, shake off the soda and carefully examine the surface of the skin. If the burn did not cause large-scale lesions of the dermis, the next morning there will be no trace of an accident.
Sunburn
The most common type of burns in the first sunny days. As a rule, they are the result of active and uncontrolled exposure to the sun, when skin that is still pale and vulnerable after winter is not treated with special protective creams.
If you received a sunburn, and there are no medications at hand that promote the healing of damaged skin, use improvised products, one of which, undoubtedly, is baking soda. For burns, it is used as follows. In 150 ml of boiled (chilled) water, dilute two tablespoons (tablespoons) of baking soda. Prepare a bandage or gauze. Dampen the gauze with a solution and carefully treat the damaged areas. Even if small wounds have already appeared, soda will disinfect them and relieve inflammation.
Burn with boiling water
Another common type of household burns. Many housewives had to experience pain after a burn with boiling water or steam. What should be the first aid for a burn in this case? After injury, place your injured hand under a stream of cold water for approximately 20 minutes to lower the temperature. After this, the injured area should be abundantly sprinkled with soda powder and slightly moisten the surface with water.
The substance is left on the wound until it dries completely. Often during the procedure, the drying soda is wetted additionally. After half an hour, the dry powder is gently shaken off. This method of using soda for a burn with boiling water will save you from the appearance of blisters, inflammation, the injured surface will heal quickly and will not leave a mark on the skin.
If you did not manage to use dry soda before bubbles appear, use an aqueous solution. To do this, you will need:
- a glass of boiled water cooled to room temperature;
- 3 tablespoons (tea) soda.
Stir well. When the sodium bicarbonate has completely dissolved, moisten generously with gauze, a soft cotton towel or cotton, squeeze it a little and lay on the damaged surface. Periodically, the dressing is impregnated with an additional portion of the soda solution so that the fabric does not completely dry. This method can be used even if the blisters have already burst. The dressing will eliminate pain, disinfect the skin and accelerate healing.
Radiation burns
This type of burns differs from traditional ones in that they appear on the skin after some time. Such damage is divided into 4 degrees of severity. Soda for radiation burns is effective only in the initial stages, when redness, swelling appears on the body, itching and burning are felt. In this case, you need to see a doctor, as radiation burns are dangerous not only for health, but also for human life.
To prepare a soda solution for the complex treatment of radiation burns, you will need:
- baking soda - 2 spoons (teaspoons);
- warm boiled water - 4 glasses.
Dilute soda in water and treat the burn area with the composition. If several sites are affected, you should take soda baths (we will talk about them below). The course of treatment for radiation burns is at least 20 days. You need to know that only soda can not cure radiation burns. The solution is used only in combination with drugs prescribed by a doctor.
Recipes with soda in the treatment of burns
Soda for the treatment of burns can be used in various ways:
- wetting the affected areas with a solution;
- taking a bath;
- in combination with other substances;
- using dry powder.
Let's get to know each of them in more detail.
If you have extensive sunburn, you can get rid of unpleasant symptoms with baking soda added to the bathroom. Half fill the bathtub with warm water (+37 ° C). Dissolve a glass of soda in it. The procedure is carried out no more than three times a day.
For radiation burns, soda is used as follows: 150 gr. soda is added to the full bath. The procedure lasts at least 20 minutes. After its completion, the body should not be washed with water. The frequency of taking such baths is every other day.
You can use soda for burns, mixing it with kefir. In this case, both ingredients can be used separately, but with complex use, these substances have a great therapeutic effect.
A glass of kefir will need 2 tablespoons of soda (tea), which will release oxygen when mixed (quenching process). An even thin layer is applied to the resulting mass on the damaged areas. Absorbing into the affected dermis, kefir nourishes it with minerals and vitamins necessary for recovery, soda, acting as an antiseptic and analgesic, protects against the occurrence of inflammatory processes. In addition, you can use this tool in the form of a bandage, changing it twice a day.
It’s even easier to get rid of the effects of burns with ordinary household soap (72%) and soda. After getting a burn, moisten the injured area with cool water and, without damaging the injured area, soap it until a soapy foam forms, then sprinkle it with soda. The dried mixture will turn into a crust - it should not be peeled off, it will fall off by itself.
Treating children
Unfortunately, in children, burns occur quite often. Doctors allow you to use soda as a first aid for a burn. The child should apply a compress with soda solution to the wound (0.5 teaspoon of soda + a glass of water). This will reduce pain, prevent the appearance of blisters, eliminate redness. Further procedures for treating burns in children are carried out only as directed and under the supervision of doctors.
Precautions and contraindications
The use of soda for burns is contraindicated in people who have individual intolerance to this substance. Ingestion of a solution of soda is prohibited for patients with chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Soda baths are not recommended for skin diseases and open wounds.
In all other cases, baking soda disinfects the injured surface, eliminating pain.