Our skin has its own way of talking to us. It expresses itself and its discomforts mostly through allergies, break-outs, boils, and reactions. One of those reactions of the skin is the burning sensation, which often becomes insufferable.

What is a Burning Sensation?

Inflammation is a way the body adopts to prevent further tissue damage. It can be defined as a short-lived mechanism marked by redness, swelling and pain. In most cases, such physiological effects are ensued by the release of provocative or poisonous chemicals around the affected area.

Causes

1. Drugs and Toxins – Burning sensation caused on the skin due to drugs and toxins are called dermatitis medicamentosa or drug eruptions. Some drugs may carry illicit particles or poisonous substances that irritates the nerves and the skin feels burning sensations.
2. Trauma – Topical traumas when exposed heat or chemicals or due to strong injury, blunt force, radiation or insect bite can also make your skin feel like it is experiencing severe burns.
3. Allergy – Alarming you through burning sensations is the skin’s way of telling you that it is allergic to a certain product you are consuming topically or orally. You must stop the consumption of the allergy causing product immediately.
4. Cutaneous Decompression Sickness – It is a medical condition that causes the skin to turn reddish, itch, swell and at times cause burning sensations. Stings or bites of aquatic animals also cause this and should be immediately be brought to the notice of your a doctor.
5. Anxiety – Our mind has a vast influence on our organs including our skin. If we are mentally anxious, our skin might express the discomfit by developing herpes, psoriasis and eczema that might have you feel burns.
6. Sun Exposure – Indian summers are at their worst during the months of May and June and the sun is at its mightiest. It is normal for the skin to react to the harsh rays of sun during these few months.
7. Diabetic Neuropathy – Constantly elevated blood sugar levels that a diabetic patient experiences damage to the nerves in many parts of the body that often ignites a burning sensation of the skin and tingling.
8. Skin Diseases – Most skin diseases star with itching, itching in turn causes the formation of micro tears on the epidermis that leads to burning sensations.
9. Peripheral Neuropathy – When our nerves get damaged due to accident or internal ailments, one among the first things the body experiences is burning sensation on the skin.
10. Plants/Herbs – Some plants or herbs, like poison ivy or nettles contain chemicals that when come in contact with the skin, causes it to feel burning senses accompanied by redness, swelling, and itching.

List of Home Remedies for Burning Sensation

Here are the easiest remedies of treating such burning sensations with products easily available at home.

1. Ice Cubes or Cold Water

What all you need:

• Ice cubes
• cotton or muslin cloth

Directions:

1. Wrap the ice cubes in a piece of clean cotton or muslin cloth.
2. Wait till the ice cubes melt enough to wet the surface of the cloth and this on the affected area

How it works: The chilled water suspended from ice cubes calms down the burn.

Tip: Repeat about thrice every day.

2. Vinegar

What all you need:

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Two cups of water
• A soft cotton cloth

Directions:

1. Mix the apple cider vinegar with water and stir well.
2. Drench the cotton cloth in this concoction
3. Wrap this cloth around the affected skin area

How it works: Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that neutralizes burning sensation of skin.

Tip: You may do this once every day before bath.

3. Lemon

What all you need:

• Juice of one lemon
• A bathing mug of water
• Cotton cloth or large handkerchief

Directions:

1. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon in a mug of clean water
2. Soak the clean cloth in this water
3. Spread the cloth on the affected skin surface.

How it works: The astringent properties in lemon helps in calming the irritated skin area.

Tip: This can also be done every day before shower till fully relieved.

4. Lavender Essential Oil

What all you need:

• Lavender oil
• Olive oil

Directions:

1. Mix one portion of lavender oil with two portions of a carrier oil like olive oil as the former is too thick to be applied solely.
2. Massage this evenly mixed oils on the affected area.

How it works: The oil is rich in both astringent as well as antiseptic properties that work toward rapid healing.

Tip: This can be done at bedtime every night till completely relieved.

5. Aloe Vera

What all you need:

• Aloe Vera gel

Directions:

1. Scoop out the gel from Aloe Vera leaves.
2. Beat them it in a mortar or with the back of a spoon to make it even.
3. Apply the even gel on the affected area.
4. Keep it on for 20 minutes and rinse off.

How it works: The gel in Aloe Vera is defined by its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help sooth the burning sensation.

Tip: You may do it every day, once or twice.

6. Bitter Gourd

What all you need:

• Bunch of bitter guard leaves.
• Water

Directions:

1. Clean the leaves thoroughly and grind them with water in a blender or mortar.
2. Spread this on the affected area.
3. Leave it on for 20 minutes before washing it off.

How it works: These leaves have medicinal properties that soothes the sensation.

Tip: Applying this twice a week will be fine.

7. Petroleum Jelly

What all you need:

• A tub of any petroleum jelly of your choice.

Directions:

1. Apply a generous coat of petroleum jelly to the affected area and massage gently.

How it works: The jelly works as a shield and saves the skin from inflammation.

Tip: You may apply this every day before bath.

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8. Oatmeal Bath

What all you need:

• 2 cups of soaked oat meal
• One bucket of water

Directions:

1. Mix the soaked and softened oatmeal with your bathing water.
2. Take bath with this water rubbing the oatmeal to the affected area.
3. After 5 minutes, shower with plain water.

How it works: Oatmeal baths are known to be very soothing and relieves itches, rashes and inflammations.

Tip: If you have a bath tub, you can fill it up half and add the oatmeal. Sit in the water for five minutes and follow up with normal shower routine.