It is probably not news to you that chemical burns can be a result of using skincare products. As an example, in the event your skincare product contains anything like alcohol and you are somewhat sensitive-skinned, it may sting when your skin comes into contact with the substances. In severe circumstances, a chemical burn may appear on a part of your face even whilst you are just trying out a new skincare product.
Getting a chemical burn on your face is no fun.
It hurts like crazy, and you’ll be tearing through the house looking for aloe vera or something to soothe the pain.
So imagine how much worse it would be if you got a chemical burn on your face and then someone responded by slapping a saran wrap mask on you.
That’s exactly what happened to one unfortunate woman after an accident involving an essential oil diffuser went wrong. According to her post on Reddit, she accidentally spilled some essential oil onto her face and then immediately put some aloe vera on it.
“The next day I woke up with burning skin around my mouth,” she wrote. “I thought it was because of the aloe vera but it kept getting worse so I went to urgent care.”
The urgent-care doctor told her that she had suffered a chemical burn from one of the ingredients in the essential oil diffuser — but instead of treating it right away, he slapped a saran wrap mask over her face and told her to leave it there for an hour or two at a time.
“I left it on for about 45 minutes,” she wrote in her post. “When I removed it, my skin was bright red and very tight.”
You should still see a doctor ASAP, though.
If you have symptoms of a UTI — like pain or burning when you pee, bloody or cloudy urine and/or a fever — it’s important to get checked out because they could indicate a more serious infection.
If you have frequent UTIs, your doctor may recommend taking antibiotics on a regular basis. You can also try drinking cranberry juice and other fluids to flush out the bacteria in your urinary tract, or take probiotics if that seems to help.
But if you’re experiencing severe pain or other symptoms and it’s been more than a week since you had sex (the incubation period for gonorrhea), consult your doctor about getting tested.
Moisturizing is the most important step.
The key to keeping your skin healthy is staying hydrated. Your body is made up of about 60% water, so it makes sense that dehydration can lead to dry skin and wrinkles. The easiest way to get more moisture into your skin is by using a moisturizer every morning and night.
My moisturizer must be fragrance-free, oil-free and non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores). I also want a product that absorbs quickly so that my makeup goes on smoothly and evenly without any blotchiness or greasiness. Finally, it should contain SPF protection because I want to protect my skin from sun damage!
You probably don’t need antibiotics.
You’ve got a runny nose, and you’re sure it’s a cold. But your doctor wants to write you a prescription for antibiotics. Why? Antibiotics are medications that kill bacteria. They’re often used to treat infections caused by bacteria, such as strep throat or an ear infection.
But most colds are caused by viruses — not bacteria. So taking antibiotics will not cure your cold and may even prevent your body from fighting off some infections if you actually do have them in the future.
What’s more: Taking antibiotics when they aren’t needed puts people at risk of developing antibiotic resistance — when bacteria change so they no longer respond to the drugs we use against them. These resistant bacteria may be harder to treat and can spread to other people, making their infections harder to treat as well.
Don’t pop any blisters that form.
The fluid in a blister is sterile, and the skin underneath is normally not damaged. The fluid will eventually drain and evaporate on its own. If you open the blister, you risk infection from bacterial growth and from dirt or other debris getting into the wound.
If you have a blister on your foot or in another area where bandages can’t easily be applied, consider using antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection, according to Mayo Clinic.
If you have diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, consult with your doctor about using over-the-counter treatments for blisters if they don’t seem to heal on their own within two weeks.
Don’t scrub your face to get rid of the rash or any peeling skin.
This can cause more irritation and inflammation, which will only make the rash worse.
Don’t use over-the-counter products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid unless your doctor recommends them. These medications can make the rash worse by drying out your skin.
Don’t pick at or scratch your face to relieve itching. This could cause infection. Also, if you scratch an area that is not yet affected by the rash, you could spread the virus to other parts of your body through tiny breaks in your skin that might be invisible to you but can allow the virus to enter your body.
Make sure you don’t pick at any scabs.
Picking at them can cause infections and make healing take longer. If you have a scab that’s driving you nuts, try putting some petroleum jelly on it to keep it moist until it heals.
Remember that picking at fever blisters (cold sores) can lead to scars. If you have a sore, take care not to touch it with your fingers or anything else (including towels) that could spread the virus to other parts of your body or other people’s bodies.
If your fever blister is painful, try taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.
Chemical burns can be serious but you can treat them at home with a little care and attention to detail
First aid for chemical burns
If someone has been burned by acid or alkali, flush the area immediately with water to dilute the chemical. Do not wash off the acid or alkali, as you could spread it over a wider area of skin and cause more damage.
If a chemical splashed onto your skin, remove any contaminated clothing and jewelry. Rinse your whole body with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. If any chemicals have come into contact with your eyes, rinse them with lukewarm water for several minutes. If any substances are still in your eyes, put on goggles or contact lenses that have been sterilized by boiling for five minutes; otherwise wear an eyewash kit if available.
If a chemical splashed onto your body, keep yourself cool and calm until medical help arrives.
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