Skin burn can be serious and life-threatening. Burns occur when your skin is exposed to heat, electricity, corrosive chemicals or radiation. Burns can affect only the epidermis, or they can penetrate the inner layers. Getting burned increases your risk of infections and dehydration. After getting skin burn, certain vitamins play a significant role in healing cells and tissues and preventing and fighting infections. Consult your doctor about vitamins for skin burn.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that can stimulate your immune system and protect your skin cells from free radicals, substances that are produced from environmental exposure to radiation. Taking vitamin A supplements after a skin burn can help you prevent infections. Eating fruits and vegetables, foods that contain high concentrations of carotenoids, such as beta carotene and other substances that make vitamin A in your body, can also speed up the healing process of skin burn.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, protects your cells from harmful chemicals and oxidative stress and is essential for synthesis of collagen, a structural component of blood vessels. Increasing vitamin C intake is vital for healing wounds and skin burn. Research by scientists at the Burn Center-BG Trauma Center at the University of Heidelberg and published in the "Journal of Burn Care & Research" in May-June 2010 found that vitamin C treatment reduces blood vessel damage in rats with skin burns. The scientists concluded that vitamin C through parenteral administration can benefit human burn patients. Parenteral administration, also called intravenous administration, is the administration of nutrients directly into the vein.
Vitamin D
Your body makes vitamin D after skin exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D plays an essential role in calcium absorption and the growth and maintenance of healthy bones. Vitamin D can become depleted and cause bone loss after skin burns. Research by scientists at the University of Texas at Galveston and published in "The Journal of Trauma" in February 2002 reports that burned children have low circulating levels of vitamin D that are associated with bone loss and low bone density. Taking vitamin D supplements is the only way to ensure vitamin D levels are replenished in burn victims, yet the optimum dosage for vitamin D in burned patients is unknown, according to research by scientists at the University of Texas in Galveston and published in "Current Clinical Pharmacology" in September 2008.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cell membranes from damage and can be effective in healing skin burns. Research by scientists at the Tokyo Women's Medical University and published in "Burns" in December 2008 reports burn victims can experience oxidative stress, which in turn causes vitamin E depletion. The scientists conclude that vitamin E supplements may be beneficial in burn patients.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Burns; 2011
- MedlinePlus; Vitamin A; 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Vitamin C; Balz Frei; November 2009
- "Journal of Burn Care & Research"; High-Dose Vitamin C Treatment Reduces Capillary Leakage after Burn Plasma Transfer in Rats; Thomas Kremer, et al.; May-June 2010
- "The Journal of Trauma"; Vitamin D Depletion Following Burn Injury in Children: A Possible Factor in Post-Burn Osteopenia; Gordon Klein, et al.; February 2002
- "Current Clinical Pharmacology"; The Interaction between Burn Injury and Vitamin D Metabolism and Consequences for the Patient; Gordon Klein; September 2008
