Can applying toothpaste cure burns?

　　after burn first aid Cooling down is key

　　The essence of scald is that high temperature causes tissue damage. The capillary wall in the dermis of the scalded part of the human body is damaged by heat, thereby increasing the permeability, causing plasma to leak out of the blood vessel, causing localized skin erythema and edema. If the capillary wall is severely damaged and excessive fluid leaks out, the leaked fluid will accumulate between the epidermis and dermis to form blisters.

　　When a burn occurs, only by removing the heat source immediately and lowering the skin temperature of the burned area can the sustained damage to human skin caused by high temperature be minimized. So, cooling down quickly is the first priority in first aid for burns. Then, we can understand the practice of applying toothpaste. This is because toothpaste is cold and has a cooling effect, and many toothpastes contain mint. Mint is refreshing and can make patients feel less pain after application, so toothpaste is considered effective.

　　Toothpaste cools down but has safety risks

　　By understanding the principles of burns, we know that the preferred treatment option for burns is cooling. Although toothpaste has some cooling effect, from the overall situation, its cooling effect is not obvious, and there are many safety hazards.

　　Everyone knows that toothpaste is used to brush teeth, not as a medicine. If the skin at the burn site is damaged, its barrier capacity will be reduced, making the injured area more susceptible to bacterial infection. Once the wound is infected, it will affect the wound healing process, so preventing and treating wound infection is also an important step in the treatment of burns. Toothpaste itself is not sterile. Long-term use of toothpaste will inevitably contain bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Applying such toothpaste to fragile wounds will undoubtedly increase the chance of wound infection.

　　In addition, there are many kinds of toothpaste, some are acidic, some are alkaline, and some contain strong irritants. Applying toothpaste on the wound surface indiscriminately may also erode the wound surface and increase the damage to the wound surface.

　　Thirdly, if the burn is severe and requires medical attention, the toothpaste covering the wound will cover the wound, making it impossible for the doctor to immediately determine the size and depth of the wound. He must clean it first before rescuing. This process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and will increase the patient's pain. Therefore, in the face of many potential safety hazards after applying toothpaste, I suggest that everyone should stop using toothpaste and other folk remedies if you get burned.

　　In case of burns, cold water is the first choice

　　As mentioned before, the temperature of the burned area should be lowered immediately after a burn. The simplest way is to find cold water and ice cubes nearby to lower the local skin temperature. Cooling down can prevent heat energy from penetrating deeply, and it can also constrict capillaries and reduce the occurrence of blisters. Cold water showering is a more recommended method, which not only reduces the local skin temperature, but also has a certain cleaning effect. If the wound is smaller, it can be soaked in cold water or ice water to cool down. Warm reminder: do not use strong water when flushing with cold water, so as not to cause skin ulceration and increase the difficulty of recovery. As long as cold water flows over the burnt surface, it will have a cooling effect.

　　If the burnt area is covered with clothing, remove the hot and humid covering. Clothing that is difficult to remove can be cut open with scissors and removed slowly. Do not tear off the clothing when the clothing is stuck to avoid unnecessary damage to the patient. After first aid is completed, the patient can self-assess whether the burn is excessive and take appropriate measures.

　　1. If the skin surface is red and swollen, with a burning sensation but no blisters, it is a first-degree burn. No special treatment is required and it will heal naturally in 3 to 7 days.

　　2. If the burn is locally reddened and swollen, and blisters are formed, it is a second-degree burn. If the blister is small, wait for it to absorb and disappear on its own. Try to avoid popping blisters to prevent infection. To prevent bacterial infection of the wound, topical antibacterial drugs can be used under the guidance of a doctor.

　　3. If the blister area is large, or the blister ruptures, or there are serious conditions such as decreased skin sensation on the wound surface, you should seek medical treatment in time to avoid adverse consequences caused by improper self-handling.