If you were to Google home remedies for burns, you would find a whole range of weird and wonderful suggestions - from dabbing it with honey, to covering it in tea bags. And while we don't recommend testing any of these out for yourself, a doctor has warned there's one thing you should absolutely never try and use to soothe a burn. Dr Kamarul Ariffin, of Malaysia, has urged people not to put toothpaste on their burns, as it could have a very nasty side effect.
To further prove his point, the medic shared a horrific image of a woman's hand, after she'd attempted to treat a hot oil burn with Colgate toothpaste. Instead of making her wound better, the woman's hand had swelled in size to a point where it was almost unrecognisable. The picture also shows the hand is covered in incredibly painful looking blisters. As a result, he warned people not to use home remedies as they could cause infection and irritation. The doctor added that those who have suffered a burn, should also never pop the blisters. Instead they should remove any burnt clothing or jewellery from the area, unless it's stuck to the skin and he recommends rinsing the wound with clean, room temperature water for 15 to 20 minute - not cold water or ice. This comment sparked concern on Twitter , with people asking if they could apply aloe vera to the affected area or not. Dr Ariffin replied: "Stop the burning first. Run water first. If it's a first degree burn, can apply aloe vera. "If it's a second or third degree, see a doctor first before applying anything."
If this warning wasn't enough to convince you not to rub toothpaste all over a burn, take it from the manufacturers themselves. In a post on their website, Colgate have also told people to only use the products for their intended purposes. They wrote: "Toothpaste contains abrasives and detergents, which work well for cleaning your teeth, but not so well when in easing the pain pain of a burn."
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