Celandine burn

Smart Romans considered celandine a unique gift from heaven and highly valued its medicinal properties. After all, it helps to get rid of diseases of the skin, muscles, joints, and other organs. But the plant is poisonous and can be insidious. If handled carelessly, a celandine burn occurs, which is accompanied by pain and which must be treated.

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Epidemiology

Burn injuries are a global problem, as they are the most common in the world; according to international medical statistics, only road accidents cause more deaths than all types of burns.

Chemical injuries, which include burns from plant poisons, make up from 2.5 to 5.1 percent of the overall structure of this type of injury. No separate statistics on burns from celandine were found in open sources. Most of these cases are local in nature and do not pose a threat to the life of the victim.

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Causes celandine burn

Celandine contains ethers (alkaloids) that can cause poisoning, burns, severe allergies, and painful rashes. The entire plant is poisonous, and the juice (yellowish-orange "milk") is especially dangerous.

The celandine tincture also has burning properties. In this regard, there are two main causes of celandine burns:

• accidental burns occur as a result of contact with grass - during rest or work in places where celandine grows;
• people burn themselves with juice or pharmaceutical preparations when self-medicating.

Preparations based on celandine are used to remove warts, papillomas and other neoplasms. A burn from the tincture is possible with improper treatment: failure to comply with the recommended concentration or time of application of the medicine.

As practice shows, skin and eyes are most often subject to burns. Damage to the organ of vision is much more dangerous and requires qualified help from an ophthalmologist.

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Risk factors

According to statistics, there are the following risk factors:

• Human gender

As practice shows, women are more often at risk of getting a burn from celandine, and this is understandable: after all, it is women who, caring about their appearance, are ready to get rid of its shortcomings by all available means.

• Age

Children are more susceptible to risks: they can get injured while walking or by using the pharmacy product celandine for other purposes.

• Socio-economic factor

People with low incomes are more likely to self-medicate, using inexpensive medications and methods.

• Sun rays

Celandine burns are aggravated by exposure to sunlight, so when using them, it is necessary to cover the skin with light clothing.

• Careless handling of medicinal plants and drugs

This factor is typical for people who abuse alcohol and lead an antisocial lifestyle.

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Pathogenesis

Burns provoke a flow of nerve-pain impulses, which results in a failure of the central nervous system and a disorder of the vasomotor and respiratory centers. This leads to a decrease in vascular tone, a violation of the permeability of small vessels, thickening of the blood, hypoproteinemia, hypochloremia. Edema appears.

Then denatured proteins are reabsorbed into the blood, causing intoxication. Further accumulation of microflora and suppuration provoke disruption of all types of metabolism; hypoproteinemia, azotemia, hyperkalemia develop in the body. In the later stages, bone tissue and lungs are affected, and dystrophic processes develop in the parenchymatous organs.

• Celandine burns are usually not extensive. Such damage, not exceeding the area of ten percent of the body, causes local reactions: pain, high temperature, headache, leukocytosis, general weakness.

If 30 percent or more of the skin is affected, then burn disease develops.

It should be noted that superficial trauma is accompanied by burning pain, while with deep damage, the nerve endings die and the person does not feel pain. First-degree damage ends with the exfoliation of dead epithelial cells.

The second stage is characterized by blisters that form immediately or after some time. The transparent contents of the blisters become cloudy from fibrin threads, and in the case of secondary infection, they become purulent. The process ends either with regeneration of the epidermal layer, without a scar, or with the formation of a scar caused by granulation tissue.

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Symptoms celandine burn

Celandine alkaloids are very toxic and can kill a person if taken internally. At the same time, the medicinal properties of the plant are widely used to make external medications, useful, among other things, for removing skin growths (warts, papillomas).

When properly treated, the juice acts gently, without causing pain or any unpleasant sensations. This application is recommended even for children and pregnant women.

Injuries occur due to careless application or overdose of juice or alcohol tincture when treating a wart or papilloma.

Symptoms of skin injury:

• irritation,
• itching,
• burning,
• edema,
• redness,
• discomfort.

If the skin is damaged, you should stop the procedure and treat the area with a healing ointment.

Burns from celandine to the eyes are especially dangerous. Treatment of such an injury, after providing first aid, is usually carried out in a hospital - due to the great threat to the organs of vision: the poison provokes conjunctivitis, edema and even loss of vision, which can be temporary or permanent.

An overdose of oral use causes inflammation of the digestive organs, a decrease in pressure. It manifests itself as thirst, heaviness in the stomach and head, vomiting and diarrhea, deterioration of the condition, up to loss of consciousness. Such symptoms require immediate hospitalization, and before the ambulance arrives, it is advisable to drink several tablets of activated charcoal and a lot of water to induce vomiting.

First signs

A burn is a skin injury caused by a variety of factors: high temperature, electrical or radiation exposure, chemical reagents, poisons.

Injuries are divided into two groups: superficial and deep. The former are capable of healing on their own, without scarring. The latter are incapable of complete healing.

The first signs of a mild celandine burn are: sharp pain, hyperemia, swelling.

There are four degrees of burn injury.

• The first is the mildest. The upper epithelial layers are affected. Hyperemia and edema disappear without a trace within a few days.
• The second is diagnosed when the keratinized epithelium is damaged to the germ layer. A characteristic sign is the formation of blisters filled with exudate. Healing lasts one and a half to two weeks.
• At the third stage, the damage spreads to all layers of the epidermis and dermis. Large blisters appear, prone to merging. The fluid inside them is serous-hemorrhagic.
• The fourth stage is characterized by tissue death, charring of muscles, bone tissue, and subcutaneous fat.

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Celandine burn on face

It is easy and simple to get a celandine burn on your face. After all, many people struggle with skin imperfections primarily on their face, neck, hands, that is, on open areas of the body. When handling pure juice or the preparation carelessly, a superficial celandine burn usually occurs, which manifests itself as hyperemia, pain, and burning.

To treat a shallow burn on the face, it is best to use a potato compress. A raw potato must be chopped on the smallest grater, add a little honey to the mushy substance and apply to the affected area. Apply the mass several times a day.

In emergency cases, potato starch can be used. It is diluted with water at room temperature to the consistency of a paste and applied in a thin layer. The procedure is repeated several times a day.

• When celandine is overdosed to remove neoplasms, deeper layers are damaged. The burnt area is highlighted on the body by inflamed bloody spots; the wounds gradually regenerate and turn into healthy ones, but sometimes spotty areas remain, where color alignment occurs rather slowly.

After first aid (rinsing with water, treating with soap or soda solution, cooling with ice), a bandage with ointment, such as zinc, should be applied to the damaged area. It will dry out the burns and speed up the renewal of the epidermis. Further treatment should be continued according to the doctor's recommendations.

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Stages

Celandine burns are classified as chemical. The depth of damage depends on the concentration of the substance and the duration of contact with the skin or mucous membrane.

There are four stages of burn process development:

• shock (from several hours to 2-3 days);
• toxemia (up to one and a half to two weeks);
• septicotoxemia (up to a month or more);
• convalescence (recovery).

Shock from a burn caused by poisonous plants is accompanied by pain, increased heart rate, chills, and decreased blood pressure.

The second stage is characterized by an increase in temperature, loss of appetite, weakness, vomiting, and thirst.

Septicotoxemia is the aggravation of a burn by infection, which is fraught with exhaustion and death of the patient. Such development is possible with deep third-degree burns.

With proper treatment, wounds heal, the body is fully restored and normalizes its activity. This stage is called convalescence.

Poisonous plants usually cause only superficial skin lesions.

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Shallow burn from celandine

A shallow burn from celandine can form as a result of cauterization of a papilloma or wart with poisonous juice. After the dead neoplasm falls off, a red spot remains on the skin, which usually does not disappear for a long time. To speed up the healing of the wound and eliminate the scar, use the ointment Kontratubeks.

A good effect is achieved when using celandine to treat abscesses, boils, herpes, scabies, and dry calluses.

If the preparation is applied carelessly, healthy tissues around the neoplasm may be damaged. Local redness, burning, itching, and pain occur. The overall affected area increases and should also be treated with wound-healing ointments.

If the celandine burn is superficial and small in area, then after washing the affected area, it is enough to apply a sterile bandage. Such burns heal quickly.

With a mild eye burn, pain is felt, redness appears, eyelids swell, and vision becomes blurred. The eye feels irritated, reflexively closes, and is filled with tears.

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Forms

Types of burn injuries are divided depending on the traumatic factors (thermal, electrical, chemical, solar, radiation). Burns from celandine are classified as chemical. Most often, the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes of the digestive tract are affected.

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Complications and consequences

Consequences and complications depend on the severity of the lesion and its localization. First-degree celandine burns heal without complications. Local consequences may manifest themselves as long-term non-healing wounds and red spots. Extensive third-degree burns may be life-threatening.

To prevent unwanted consequences, celandine and its preparations are contraindicated for the following categories:

• pregnant and nursing mothers;
• patients with epilepsy, angina pectoris;
• patients with mental disorders;
• children under 3 years old.

For the same purpose, it is not recommended to overdose the substance. When removing skin defects, fresh juice or tincture is dripped pointwise, aimed at neoplasms, avoiding application to healthy skin.

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Diagnostics celandine burn

The main thing in diagnostics is to determine the depth and area of the burn. These indicators have practical significance in the treatment of burn injuries, and not so much the size of the damage itself, but relative to the total area of the skin. There are special methods for determining this indicator: the "palm rule", the "nine rule", the Postnikov method.

Diagnosis of celandine burns is based on:

• anamnesis;
• clinical indicators;
• inspection.

The data obtained make it possible to predict the complexity of the injury and choose a treatment plan. The location of the burn is also important.

If the visual organs are damaged, then special studies are added to these methods in a hospital setting:

• determination of intraocular pressure and visual acuity;
• ophthalmoscopy;
• biomicroscopy.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics of celandine burns is carried out to determine the degree of damage. To distinguish between grade IIIa and IIIb, special dyes and enzymes are used, and disturbances of sensitivity and blood circulation in the burn areas are determined.

The most accessible is the method of pain sensitivity, which in the first case is reduced, and in the second is completely absent. Several methods are used:

• needle prick;
• treating the wound with alcohol;
• hair plucking (with superficial trauma, pain is felt, the hairs are not pulled out; with deep trauma, they are removed easily and painlessly).

The easiest way to check the state of blood circulation is by pressing. Three zones are distinguished:

• hyperemia;
• stasis;
• complete lack of blood circulation.

Changes in the first zone are reversible. In the second, there are options: either renewal or necrosis. The last zone is irretrievably lost tissue.

Treatment celandine burn

Treatment of a celandine burn should begin with first aid, which will help minimize the effects of chemical damage.

• The burnt area should be washed with lukewarm running water and treated with a solution of soda or laundry soap.
• To prevent the irritation area from increasing in size, cool it with an ice cube.
• Characteristic symptoms of itching and burning are relieved with zinc, antihistamine or hormonal ointments, and anti-burn aerosols.

Skin damage can be treated independently. The effects of chemical trauma are aggravated by exposure to direct sunlight, so it is extremely important to protect burned areas of the body from the sun for the first few days. The best protection is a bandage on the sore spot. For small affected areas, outpatient care is usually sufficient for the patient.

If in the following days the consequences of the injury do not decrease, but on the contrary, become more intense (appearance of a reddish-brown color, blisters with liquid), the burn should be treated with the help of a qualified specialist.

Eye burns require immediate medical attention. In the hospital, the victim is prescribed a range of procedures: rinsing, antibiotics, painkillers, bandages, etc. In severe cases, surgical manipulations may be necessary.

Medicines

Local therapy includes the use of antiseptic solutions, pharmacy ointments, emulsions or balms. These drugs prevent the occurrence of infectious phenomena and stimulate the renewal of the epidermis. In burn surgery, open and closed methods are practiced.

• Akriderm ointment is applied in a thin layer, up to six times daily, until a clear improvement in the condition occurs.

Further frequency of application is twice a day. When treating a celandine burn on the face, the duration of application should not exceed five days; if there is no improvement, it is necessary to change Akriderm to another ointment.

Precautions: Do not apply around the eyes; discontinue use if hypersensitivity to the substance is detected.

The medicine may cause burning, dryness, inflammation of the follicles, stimulate increased hair growth and other undesirable effects. In case of overdose, suppression of the adrenal cortex is observed.

• Solcoseryl (ointment, gel) is an effective remedy for first- and second-degree burns.

Before applying Solcoseryl, the surface is cleaned with a disinfectant solution. Frequency of use - once or twice a day. The skin treated with the ointment may feel a burning sensation, develop urticaria and dermatitis. If the symptoms do not go away, the ointment is discontinued.

• Panthenol is used for burns in different ways.

The ointment, cream, aerosol or lotion is applied to the skin pre-treated with an antiseptic, 1-4 times. When performing the procedure, be careful not to let the medicine get into your eyes.

The eye gel is instilled drop by drop 3-5 times a day, always at night.

In case of lesions of the oral mucosa and scalp, a panthenol solution is used. The preparation is diluted with water: in equal proportions - for rinsing; 1:3 - for the scalp. In case of minor burns, this procedure stops the process at a mild stage. Treatment with panthenol does not require a bandage.

• Diazolin is recommended as an antiallergic drug.

It is taken orally, 0.05 - 0.02 g once or twice. The tablets may irritate the gastric mucosa, so they are contraindicated in peptic ulcer disease, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

• Calendula ointment is lightly rubbed into the surface and a bandage is applied.

The procedure is repeated two or three times, the bandage is changed to a fresh one each time. In the presence of individual sensitivity to the components of the ointment, symptoms of an allergic reaction are possible.

In addition to those listed, actovegin, sinaflan, bepanten, rescuer, ichthyol and zinc ointments are used.

In case of eye damage, rinse with sterile solutions, prescribe antibiotics, painkillers (analgin, amidopyrine).

In case of poisoning with celandine preparations, activated carbon is used, gastric lavage is performed to induce a gag reflex. If necessary, the procedure is repeated several times.

Folk remedies

A celandine burn on the skin does not pose a threat to human life and can be treated at home. Traditional treatment involves proven remedies: aloe, potatoes or starch, tea infusion, mixtures of plant and animal products.

• Compresses made from raw potatoes are used for facial burns.

Grind one potato in a blender or fine grater, add a little honey. Apply several times a day.

• Potato starch is thickly diluted with cold, previously boiled water.

The resulting paste is applied in a thin layer. The procedure is performed several times a day.

• Egg yolk, homemade sour cream and sunflower oil are mixed together and applied once a day.

The nourishing mixture eliminates discomfort, hyperemia, and promotes epidermis regeneration.

• Sea buckthorn oil is used to lubricate burns, frostbite, and abrasions.

The medicine is prepared from fresh fruits and heated vegetable oil in a 1:1 ratio. Infuse in a dark place for two weeks, squeeze through gauze and use as an external remedy.

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Herbal treatment

Alternative medicine practices herbal treatment of celandine burns. Usually, the recipes offered by healers are simple and accessible for helping burnt skin.

• Aloe

Apply to small areas of the limbs. A pre-washed and peeled aloe leaf is applied to the skin and secured with a bandage. The procedure is recommended to be repeated twice a day. The active substances of the plant stimulate tissue regeneration.

• Tea

A cold strong infusion of black or green tea is used for compresses, in particular on the face. Such treatment effectively removes unpleasant symptoms, activates the renewal of the affected skin.

• Kalanchoe

A clean leaf of Kalanchoe pinnate is crushed to the consistency of a paste, which is applied to the affected area.

• Mother-and-stepmother

Equal parts of coltsfoot and rosehip leaves are crushed into small pieces and poured with a cup of boiling water. After about three hours, compresses are made. It is believed that such an infusion for burns is more effective than many other herbal remedies.

Homeopathy

Treatment for celandine burns has three goals: reducing pain; preventing infection; preventing or treating shock. Homeopathy is a good aid for celandine burns.

At the first stage, homeopathic preparations Arnica 30 and Aconite 30 are very useful.

At the second stage, it is useful to add Cantharis 30 to these drugs, then Urtica ureis.

If the patient is in a state of shock, Opium 1M is recommended.

• Dosage in potency 30C: three grains every two hours, until stable improvement. In case of severe damage, the dose may be repeated every hour. If after three doses there is no obvious improvement, replace with another homeopathic preparation.

More detailed recommendations are individual in nature, depending on specific circumstances. But in any case, pain relief should occur within minutes after taking the medicine. Homeopathic treatment also promotes rapid healing of burns, prevents or reduces the appearance of scars.

Prevention

Prevention of celandine burns follows from the causes of the injury. To avoid accidental contact with the poisonous milk, it is necessary to wear long gloves when working in beds or flower beds. If you work directly with celandine, it is also important to protect your eyes with glasses.

When using celandine preparations to remove warts or in other cases, you should strictly follow the instructions: apply the substance directly to the desired area, in a safe concentration and frequency, and protect healthy tissue with adhesive tape or lubricate with some cream.

A more gentle remedy than homemade ointment and plant juice is celandine tincture mixed with various ingredients (glycerin, petroleum jelly).

It is not recommended to “treat” teeth or wash eyes with celandine.

To prevent childhood injuries at home, medications containing celandine, along with other medications, should be kept out of the reach of children.

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Forecast

If you get a burn from celandine on your skin, the prognosis is favorable, but red spots may remain on the skin.

Burns of the mucous membranes and eyes depend on the severity of the injury, the concentration and time of exposure to the toxic substance, and the timeliness of medical care. With proper treatment, burns end in recovery. In particularly severe cases, complications develop that are unfavorable for visual function, up to and including loss of vision.

An unpretentious plant that grows like a weed is actually a medicinal herb. The name "celandine" speaks for itself: the plant cleanses the body", so it is popular with cosmetologists, pharmacists, and folk healers. But the nondescript herb can also cause problems. For this reason, it is called less euphoniously: "devil's milk" and "witch's potion". Celandine confirms the truth that everything is a medicine, and everything is a poison, and only the dose differentiates these concepts.