Vinegar Good Medicine for Some Burns

(HealthScoutNews) -- Vinegar can minimize alkaline burn injuries caused by household cleaners, plumbing products and industrial grade solvents.

A study in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery says vinegar and other weak acids can neutralize alkaline burns faster than water and significantly reduce damage to skin and tissue.

That's contrary to the common myth that neutralization should be avoided when a person suffers an alkaline burn, study co-author Dr. Stephen Milner says in a news release.

About 15,000 skin burns are caused by alkaline agents each year in the United States. Alkaline agents are found in many common cleaning supplies used in homes.

The first few minutes after the skin comes into contact with an alkaline substance are the most important in managing the burn, Milner says. Once alkalis penetrate the skin, they react with fat in the skin and progressively kill the tissue.

The study found that vinegar and other weak acids neutralized alkalis more than 15 minutes faster than water alone. But Milner says people who suffer alkaline burns do need to wash the area off with water before they apply vinegar.

"I've had patients with such severe alkaline burns that they needed skin grafts to help repair the damage. Unfortunately, these types of burns happen much more often than we think. Through this study, we now know we may be able to reduce the severity, some of the pain and debilitating effects of alkaline burns," Milner says.

More information

Here's where you can learn more about different kinds of burns.

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