title: The efficacy of Aloe vera, tea tree oil and saliva as first aid treatment for partial thickness burn injuries.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuttle
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kempf
authors.forename: Olena
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kravchuk
authors.forename: Narelle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Pei-Yun
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong-En
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mill
authors.forename: Xue-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kimble
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations; D020947:Tea Tree Oil