Table of contents:
- The dangers of using toothpaste for burns
- Other ingredients that should not be used to treat burns
- 1. Ice cubes
- 2. Oil
- 3. Egg whites
- 4. Butter
What do you do if you get hit by a hot skillet or get splashed with hot oil? Most of the people will rely on toothpaste as first aid. But unfortunately, this is just wrong, you know. Applying toothpaste to burns only worsens the condition of the wound. Why is that, huh?
The dangers of using toothpaste for burns
Toothpaste or toothpaste is said to relieve pain caused by burns. In fact, this is actually a wrong assumption because the content in toothpaste can actually make burns worse.
The reason is, toothpaste contains various chemicals that are used as bleach and breath fragrances. The content of toothpaste which is beneficial for teeth actually makes the tissue around the burn even more damaged. These ingredients can cause irritation and discoloration of the skin if used directly on a wound.
Toothpaste also contains calcium and peppermint which can increase the risk of infection and damage to skin tissue. Even though it can have a cold effect, using toothpaste for burns actually covers the injured area and traps heat inside. As a result, the burn will take longer to heal.
Other ingredients that should not be used to treat burns
It is not only toothpaste that is considered to be able to heal burns, there are several other household ingredients that are often used. In fact, again, these ingredients are not able to heal wounds and even make them worse.
1. Ice cubes
Ice cubes can indeed cool the skin temperature. However, using ice cubes or cold water in the wrong way can actually worsen your condition. Both of these substances can irritate the wound area, even causing a type of burn called cold burn .
2. Oil
The oil has a variety of health uses, but using it on burned skin can actually trap heat and prevent burns from healing. So, you need to avoid using different types of cooking oil, as well as coconut oil and olive oil.
3. Egg whites
Like the myth of using toothpaste for burns, egg white is also not proven to treat this condition. Raw egg whites can actually increase the risk of bacterial infection in the wound. This ingredient can also trigger allergic reactions in some people, so avoid using it when you have burns.
4. Butter
There is no research that shows that butter can be an effective natural ingredient to treat burns. Like oil, butter can trap heat in the skin area and slow down the healing process. In addition, butter is not sterile, so it can lead to infection in the injured skin area.
The use of toothpaste for burns has not been proven to relieve pain, especially to heal wounds. In order to avoid burns that take longer to heal or even get worse, it's a good idea to avoid using ingredients that have not been proven to be of benefit.