Do you have burns from cancer treatment? If you do, you are probably looking for the best way to treat these burns/scars. There are many products you can use. One that comes highly recommended is emu oil. But does emu oil help burns? This post will answer this question.
Radiation therapy is very common in cancer treatment. Almost 50% of cancer patients get radiation therapy at one point during treatment. Radiation treatment relies on high-energy waves or particles like gamma rays, x-rays, protons or electron beams to damage cancer cells. It works by making tiny breaks in the DNA inside cells. This keeps cancer cells from growing and dividing.
The drawback to radiation therapy is that it causes radiation dermatitis. This is what is referred to as radiation burns. These can present in the form of skin peeling or redness. It may also appear as thinning skin, spider veins or scarring. As to the question of does emu oil help burns, the answer is yes. The emu oils have analgesic properties that soothe the skin thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. It also reduces swelling and redness.
Emu oil has been recognized for its amazing ability to soothe thermal burns. These are burns that result from contact with a heated object like boiling water, hot cooking oil, steam or fire. It also treats sunburns. The oil works by speeding up healing as well as reducing scarring.
The right way to use emu oil
Studies have proven that the regular use of emu oils can improve the health and thickness of the skin. You should start applying the oil on the affected area twice every day for up to 2 weeks before radiation therapy. This will help plump the underlying skin layers and bring optimum health to help the skin cope well with the effects of radiation treatment.
If you use the oil right before treatment, you need to apply a small amount and ensure it is absorbed into the skin before the therapy session. Oil on the skin surface may interfere with the efficiency of the treatment. Most radiologists prefer you don’t use any product on your skin before the treatment. You can apply the oil to the treated area immediately after the treatment. Continue using small amounts of the oil at least once every 2 to 4 hours for the next 24 to 48 hours after treatment. The oil will soak into the skin within 30 to 60 seconds. If it doesn’t, there is a good chance you applied too much.
While emu oil does work in helping burns heal faster, you should always start by discussing the use of the oil with your doctor. If the doctor allows the use of the oil, make sure you only use pure emu oil from reputable manufacturers/distributors.