USING BUTTER FOR BURNS

Home remedies; we've all heard of them. You know, things like chicken soup for colds, or holding your breath for hiccups. Whatever the ailment, there's likely a home grown cure just waiting in your kitchen or bathroom. Some of these old techniques work and are pretty accurate, while others.... not so much. One of them that is pretty popular but equally dangerous is the old, "butter on burns" procedure. Many people around the world apply butter (or margarine) to the skin to treat minor burns; but is this the right way to go? Well, before you draw for the "I can't believe it's not butter" take at look at these findings:

Minor Burn Treatment

First off, a burn is a type of physical injury that can be caused by friction (like carpet/ rope burns), exposure to electricity or chemicals, and you guessed it; heat. Burns are classified on a scale of first to fourth degree based on the depth and severity of the burn (four being the worst). First degree burns are not too severe and only affect the outer most skin layer. They are characterized by swelling, redness, and..... oh yeah, pain. Second degree burns up the ante. These burns cause blister formation and more severe damage to the outer skin layer, in addition to the underlying dermis. Now on to the big boys.

Third degree burns are no joke. Burns of the third degree are characterized by intense pain, loss of hair shafts and follicles, tissue damage, and skin loss. That's right, skin loss. Skin grafts may be required. If third degree burns are the under boss.... then meet Tony Soprano. Fourth degree burns take it to the next level. ( I know you're probably saying "duh", fourth is the next level after third, but work with me). Fourth degree burns are excruciating. Fourth degree burns are characterized by damage to the skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Third & fourth degree burns are serious injuries and if you or someone you know is burned this badly, please seek immediate medical attention from medical professionals. For our purposes, we will focus on minor first degree burns caused by heat.

When faced with a minor burn situation, the following three steps should be taken.

1. Cool down the burned area. Sounds simple right? Place the affected area under cool running water or submerge it cool water. Aside from easing that burning sensation, this will help to reduce the swelling.

2. Cover the burn with a clean bandage. This will also help to ease the pain but more importantly, it will help guard against infection.

3. Do not apply butter, margarine, or any grease for that matter. Now let's think about this. Your flesh is on fire, and to ease the pain you use... butter? Butter? What are you trying to do speed up the cooking process? Butter will only serve to retain heat in the affected tissues and provides a medium for infectious bacteria and other pathogens to thrive in. Seriously, the only thing worse than applying butter would be use ice. Introducing extreme cold will only serve to exacerbate the problem.

Overall, minor burns can be easy to mend, so long as the right procedures are used when it occurs. If you or a loved one experiences a burn that may not be a minor one (for example if the skin begins to peel off), be aware that this may not be a simple minor burn and you may need medical attention. Do not hesitate to contact your family health physician or a local health care provider in the event that you are suffering from a burn that may be a serious one. Be sure to consult with a physician or health care provider regarding any concerns.