The role of homeopathy in skin burns

We call “burns” all injuries caused by heat. There are three degrees of damage. The severity of burns is a function not only of the degree, but also of the area of the lesions. Homeopathy acts effectively against localized burns, reducing pain and hastening healing. Extensive burns are obviously in the hospital domain, but they can benefit from the addition of our medicines.

1st degree burns, simple painful erythema

It is the erythematous burn that one encounters for example after a sunburn or after having approached too close to a source of heat.

Belladonna :

This medication is indicated for two particular skin aspects:

Either in the event of a thin , scarlet eruption , like that of scarlet fever, on matte , dry skin .
Either in the event of a red , shiny , inflammatory erythematous edematous eruption , radiating heat at a distance .

The pains are pulsating, aggravated by touch, but have no well-defined thermal modality.

Dosage : Take in 5 or 7 CH, 5 granules every hour or every 2 hours depending on the severity of the symptoms.

Apis mellifica :

This medicine is suitable for erythematous, oedematous , burning , pungent eruptions , as from a multitude of needles reddened in the fire. The skin is pink red, rather matte or not very shiny, sometimes with an orange peel appearance. The pain improves with cold applications .

Dosage : Take in 9 CH, 5 granules every hour or every 2 hours, spacing out the doses according to improvement.

Local care of erythematous burns will be kept to a minimum. Avoid non-penetrating fatty substances which produce real occlusive dressings. Pure water sprays or low-alcohol lotion sprays are preferred.

2nd degree burns, circumscribed bullae or raised phlyctenules extended over a red and edematous surface

They are most often encountered either after strong sunburn or after burning with boiling liquids. They are characterized by the formation of more or less wide blisters which all respond to:

Cantharis :

This drug corresponds to large phlyctenoid vesicles containing a clear liquid at the beginning of their formation, with underlying edema. Sometimes urinary phenomena such as oliguria are associated.

Dosage : Take in 7 or 9 CH, 5 granules 4 times a day, if necessary alternately with Apis 9 CH in case of mixed oedemato-phlyctenoid lesions. In extensive burns, patients may present with associated urinary phenomena: oliguria, albuminuria, hematuria, cylindruria. They are at this stage subject to hospitalization in specialized services, but, moreover, they could usefully benefit from this same homeopathic therapy, the drugs Apis and Cantharis having precisely in their respective pathogenesis the urinary phenomena previously described.

3rd degree burns, carbonization of integuments and underlying tissues

These are escarriform burns, with necrosis of the living tissue, generally following more or less prolonged contact with the heat source. Three main drugs can help heal these destructive lesions:

Kalium bichromicum :

This medicine is suitable for ulcerations with sharp edges , as if cut with a punch, with little or no pain. The bottom of the eschar is greenish-yellow and secretes thick, stringy mucus that is poorly detached from the damaged tissue.

Dosage : Take in 5 or 7 CH, 5 pellets 4 times a day.

Arsenicum album :

Indicated in case of burning pain , with nocturnal recrudescence, improved by local heat. The serums are excoriating, sanious, sometimes nauseating. We can see a deterioration of the general state with asthenia and anxious agitation.

Dosage : Take in 7 or 9 CH, 5 granules 2 to 4 times a day.

Kreosotum :

This medicine has practically the same local symptoms as Arsenicum album , but with a bleeding tendency and absence of nocturnal aggravation.

Dosage : Take in 5 or 7 CH, 5 pellets 4 times a day.

Whatever the drug chosen, it can be combined with Pyrogenium 9 CH , 5 granules 1 to 2 times a day, to avoid infectious complications. Locally, wash peripheral healthy skin with soap, then wash lesions with Calendula TM ., diluted. Then, brush the skin surrounding the wound with an eosin solution, and make a dressing with Calendula Ointment.

The vicious scars

Homeopathic treatment generally gives good results on burns with soft, painless, inconspicuous scars. However, in untreated subjects or in patients predisposed to keloids, one can encounter scars with the characteristic fibrous bead. Homeopathy is certainly the only therapeutic method to be able to offer a treatment that is both preventive and curative, effective and non-aggressive, against keloid scars. However, the curative treatment will only be effective against recent keloids (less than 3 to 4 months old).

Graphites :

It is the standard symptomatic medication for keloid scars .

Dosage : Take in 7 or 9 CH, 5 granules twice a day for 1 or 2 months. For curative purposes, it is sometimes useful to resort to the 15 CH dilution. The intake of Graphites will be supported by that of a weekly dose of Thuja 15 or 30 CH . Thuja is the main drug of a particular reaction ground, one of the fundamental characteristics of which is to produce constructive lesions of the skin.