I have a love/hate relationship with my heated hair styling tools. Though I love how they whip my hair into shape, I hate the battle wounds I get from them time and time again. They say pain is beauty, but the beating that I take is starting to not be worth the outcome. Here are a few tips for dealing with this HOT matter, and if these steps are taken in a timely manner, you may be able to prevent permanent damage.
1. The Cool Down
Did you know that burning flesh continues to burn even after you have removed the source of heat from your skin? If the skin that came in contact with the heating device isn’t cooled immediately the burn can continue to seep deeper into the skin, causing it to go from a first degree to a second or third degree burn. A cold compress is the best immediate care for any burn. According to the Director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, “Never apply ice directly to the burn, as that can freeze the skin. Instead grab an ice pack, or run a towel under cold water.” The idea of this is to cool off the skin, until it isn’t warm to the touch any longer.
2. Treat
Once your flesh is done burning it’s best to treat the area with a topical steroid. This helps to reduce inflammation, but won’t really resolve your long-term wound care needs. Try aiding your wound with aloe vera gel and/or vitamin E oil to assist in the healing process. Aloe also aids in pain relief.
3. Let It Be
Wounds can really go through a bunch of phases throughout their healing cycle. And take it from me, it is going to look ugly and itch like crazy at times! The best thing you can do is just continue to LEAVE IT ALONE! Picking at it is only going to leave you susceptible to infection and scarring.
4. Moisturize
Keeping the burned area moist is imperative to the healing process. I personally kept a small bottle of aloe vera gel with me at all times. The pain and itching at some points can get unbearable, and I found that the aloe truly did the trick. Another good option is Vaseline!