Burns & Sunburn
Updated Jun. 30th, 2026 | Read Time: 3 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- What Happens To The SKin When It's Burned?
- Immediate Treatment Options For Burns
- Preventing Burns & Sunburns & Long-Term Treatment Regimens
- Nutrients That Support SKin Health & Improve Burn Healing
- Important Information
- Nutritional Information
- Reader Comments (7)
The skin is the largest organ in the body. Burns can severely injure the skin and can require medical attention. First-degree burns make the skin turn red. Second-degree burns form blisters. Third-degree burns look charred and cause damage to both the skin and underlying tissue. Excessive heat, friction, chemicals, electricity and radiation can cause burns. Sunburns are a form of radiation burn. Luckily, with modern first-aid and natural therapies, there are many treatment options for burns.
What Happens To The SKin When It's Burned?
Burns dehydrate the skin and weaken the immune system. Damaged skin loses its protective barrier, increasing infection risk. The immune system also focuses on healing the burn.
How Can I Immediately Treat A Burn?
Seek medical attention for severe burns. Keep the person calm and well hydrated until help arrives. It’s important to prevent the individual from going into shock. For less severe burns, there are topical agents that will ease symptoms and speed recovery. If there is no open wound, apply vitamin E oil to reduce swelling and scarring. Aloe vera gel will work to cool the burn and lessen the pain. One way to prevent infection is to apply diluted calendula tincture.
Do not use greasy substances for first aid. They prevent heat dissipation and may worsen the burn. Once the burn has begun to heal, the goal of treatment is to reduce scarring. vitamin E, rosa mosqueta or calendula cream can help.
Preventing Long-Term Treatment For Burns & Sunburns
Use sunscreens to protect against sunburn. Sunscreens containing physical sun blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide block both UVA and UVB rays. New technology makes the particles so small that they go onto the skin with no white coating. The protective agents need not be absorbed into the skin in order to work; therefore, they are less harmful to the body. You can find these sunscreens at health food stores and through National Nutrition.
Nutrients That Offer Treatment For Skin Health & Improve Burns
A diet high in whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables provides a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. Eat yellow fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A. Consume nutritional yeast for B vitamins to support immune function. Eat potassium-rich foods like bananas, potateos, and tomatoes to help maintain electrolyte balance. Consume ocean-going fish, nuts, seeds and cold-pressed oils for essential fatty acids.
Important Information
The most common complications of a burn are shock, dehydration and infection. The skin plays a large role in fluid regulation.
Another advantage of using sun blocks like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is that they are safe for the ocean life. Regardless if you physically go into the ocean, when you shower, what you wash off eventually makes its way into the oceans. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are not harmful to the corals (which are in danger of extinction at the current rate of damage). Even better though is to simply wear clothing that has SPF rating and moderate your time in the sun.
Hello Elisa,
We're glad you enjoyed our article on sun health. Mineral based sunscreens are also more beneficial for our health since our skin absorbs what we put on it and they provide better sun protection too. Win-win-win!
Stay healthy & well.
This article is such a great reminder to read during the summer months when it is hot outside and we are more likely to be out in the sun! Sunblock is so important to protect our skin from the effects of sunburns and the rays, and I didn't realize that we should be looking out for certain ingredients in our sunscreen like Zinc Oxide! I am looking into buying a more natural sunscreen so I will be sure to double check the ingredients now!
Hello,
A mineral sunblock is so important because it protects the skin differently than chemical sunscreens, provides the full amount of SPF listed on the bottle all over the applied area and doesn't put harsh chemicals into the body. We're glad you were able to learn from our article and now have the knowledge to better care for your health.
Stay well!
I did not know the distinction between the different degrees of sunburn so it was great that you laid out that information in the start of the article. I am very prone to sunburn with my naturally pale skin. As you mention, a mineral sunscreen, such as zinc or titanium dioxide, is an excellent way to avoid sun damage to the skin (both sunburn and aging!). Also, I did not know that infection is one of the most common complications of sunburn but, as a microbiologist, I find this fact interesting and will be reading more in order to learn how and why this is the case
Hello Rachel,
Yes, there are varying degrees of a sunburn, we're glad you enjoyed that part. Protect your skin with a quality natural sunblock made from zinc if you're prone to burning. You can find quality ones here: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/skin-care/sun-protection.html
I did not realize that the skin is the largest organ of the body. I did not think that it counted. I thought that the largest organ would depend on the person, for in some diseases different organs become enlarged. I also did not know that first degree is actually less severe than third degree burns and what exactly the difference was between each of the types. The types of burns and skin being the biggest body organ sound like trivia facts to me! I will be looking for a fun oppuritunity to share these facts. I assume that there will be other people, who do not know this as well. I think they may also think it is cool