The efficacy of Aloe vera, tea tree oil and saliva as first aid treatment for partial thickness burn injuries.
Many alternative therapies are used as first aid treatment for burns, despite limited evidence supporting their use. In this study, Aloe vera, saliva and a tea tree oil impregnated dressing (Burnaid) were applied as first aid to a porcine deep dermal contact burn, compared to a control of nothing. After burn creation, the treatments were applied for 20 min and the wounds observed at weekly dressing changes for 6 weeks. Results showed that the alternative treatments did significantly decrease subdermal temperature within the skin during the treatment period. However, they did not decrease the microflora or improve re-epithelialisation, scar strength, scar depth or cosmetic appearance of the scar and cannot be recommended for the first aid treatment of partial thickness burns.
Cuttle
Leila
L
Royal Children's Hospital Burns Research Group, University of Queensland, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia.
Kempf
Margit
M
Kravchuk
Olena
O
George
Narelle
N
Liu
Pei-Yun
PY
Chang
Hong-En
HE
Mill
Julie
J
Wang
Xue-Qing
XQ
Kimble
Roy M
RM
D000504:Aloe; D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D002921:Cicatrix; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods; D005392:First Aid / Q000379:methods; D023421:Models, Animal; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012463:Saliva; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000382:microbiology; D013552:Swine; D020947:Tea Tree Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
D028321:Plant Preparations; D020947:Tea Tree Oil