If you’re like most people, you’ve probably had a chemical peel before. You know they’re supposed to make your skin look great, but maybe you didn’t realize that they could also cause burns.
But don’t worry: if you experience a chemical burn, there are ways to treat it. In this article, we’ll go over what causes chemical burns, how to treat them, and how to avoid them in the future.If you have any questions or concerns about chemical peels or burns after your procedure, please contact our office immediately.
Read on to learn more about How To Treat Burned Skin From Chemical Peel, Chemical Burn On Lip From Teeth Whitening
How To Treat Burned Skin From Chemical Peel
Your Care Instructions
Burns can occur when a harmful chemical, such as a cleaning product or an acid, splashes onto the skin. The amount of damage to the skin depends on how strong the chemical was, how much of it was on the skin, and how long it was there. Chemical burns, even minor ones, can be very painful. A minor burn may heal within a few days. But a more serious burn may take weeks or even months to heal completely.
When the skin is damaged by a burn, it may become infected. You can help prevent infection and help your burn heal. Keep the burn clean, and change the bandages often. Taking good care of the burn as it heals may help prevent bad scars.
The treatment for most chemical burns is to remove the chemical from the skin by flushing the area with plenty of water. But some chemicals can’t be removed with water. They may need to be removed from the skin in other ways by the doctor.
The doctor has checked your skin carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
How can you care for yourself at home?
- If your doctor told you how to care for your burn, follow your doctor’s instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:
- Wash the burn with clean water 2 times a day. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
- Gently pat the burn dry after you wash it.
- You may cover the burn with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage.
- Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
- Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- Don’t break blisters open. Broken blisters could get infected. If a blister breaks open by itself, blot up the liquid, and leave the skin that covered the blister. This helps protect the new skin.
- Try not to scratch the burn. Talk to your doctor or nurse call line about what to use on the burn for itching.
When should you call for help?
Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your pain gets worse.
- You have symptoms of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the burn.
- Pus draining from the burn.
- A fever.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:
- The burn is not getting better each day.
Chemical Burn On Lip From Teeth Whitening
I recently started dabbling in teeth whitening again after at least 5 years without. I have suuuuper sensitive teeth, so the last time I tried a white strip and it felt like electrocution within 2 minutes, I was too scared to ever dabble again. I tested a whitening kit my mom gifted me, but during my 2nd use I don’t think I rinsed my mouth out of all the harsh chemicals enough. And boy have I learned my lesson the hard way.
After a few days I noticed my gums, under my tongue, and inside of my bottom lip & left side of my cheek in major pain, and the only thing I could think caused it was my teeth whitening. The inside of my cheek was even forming an oral sore or ulcer of some sort. The only positive side effect was a swollen bottom lip…hello, free faux lip injections!
From there, I noticed that both my diet and oral care routine were just making matters worse. So, I took a few steps to try to heal my burn as fast as possible and the results were almost immediate (fully healed in 5 days). Here they are, in case you find yourself in a similar predicament!
FOOD & DIET
Reduce acidic foods: Unsurprisingly, acidic foods will further irritate your mouth burn, by…literally burning it. I cut out my snack time tangerines & stopped eating my salads with balsamic vinaigrette. I did keep my daily coffee in my routine, but figured enough milk made it okay.
Limit alcoholic beverages: alcohol obviously also burns, so I’d avoid at all costs. I had 2 cocktails while healing and it wasn’t the most pleasant experience…straws might help.
Eliminate spice & reduce salt: sorry to the seasoning police, but any sort of spicy foods and increased salt are NOT IT in this instance. I cut out my current TJ’s chili lime rolled corn tortilla chips obsession and stopped using pepper on my roasted vegetables. I still salted and seasoned, but tried to use less.
Cut out hard and crunchy snacks: Eating any chips or “sharp” foods that could poke and prod at your oral burn is a solid choice. I switched my chips for popcorn or trail mix. Nothing hurts more than a tortilla chip shard.
ORAL CARE PRODUCTS
Natural Toothpaste: if you’re using a traditional toothpaste, the SLS (and surely, other ingredients) can reallllly burn while brushing. I used to be a big fan of Hello Products, but they discontinued my favorite toothpaste and I reverted back to my old ways. I bought the Hello Hemp Seed Oil Fluoride Toothpaste and love it. I’m officially making the switch back, and now I want to try *all* of their flavors and products, especially the mouthwash!
Speaking of mouthwash, I’ve recently gotten into using TheraBreath a few months ago & I really like it. I was already using the TheraBreath Healthy Gum rinse, but thought it would be worth recommending. They have so many options, I don’t know which to try next! I’ve tried and liked the TheraBreath Fresh Breath rinse (recommended for tonsil stones) as well.
Manual toothbrush: I’ve used an electric toothbrush for 2 years now, but went back to using a soft bristled manual toothbrush until my mouth healed. I feel like the oscillating bristles just stabbed my poor irritated gums too much, so it’s worth a shot.