Colloidal Silver for Burns

Burns are damage to tissue that can result from exposure to extreme heat, chemicals, electricity, or radioactive material. Silver -- colloidal or ionic silver, silver in solution -- is a potent antibacterial product. It has been demonstrated as such for well over 100 years.

Because of silver's antibacterial properties, colloidal silver has been found to prevent the infection resulting from burns.

Silver has been used for thousands of years as a healing and preventive health product. Treating wounds with silver was common from the 1800s to the mid-1900s when the use of antibiotics took precedence in the medical field. However, silver is still utilized in many medical circumstances. Hospitals use a silver treatment to dress scars and wounds especially wounds that resist healing. Catheters are lined with silver to prevent infection and water is purified with silver. Now, silver is coming to the at-home health care market.

For minor burns, colloidal silver may be applied topically after the burn is cleaned with soap and cold water and gently dried. To avoid the risk of infection, topical application of colloidal silver should be made to blistered or open burn wounds.

What are the categories of burns?

The treatment of burns depends on the depth, area and location of the burn. Burn depth is generally categorized as first, second or third degree. A first degree burn is superficial and has similar characteristics to a typical sun burn. The skin is red in color and sensation is intact. In fact, it is usually somewhat painful. Second degree burns look similar to the first degree burns; however, the damage is now severe enough to cause blistering of the skin and the pain is usually somewhat more intense. In third degree burns the damage has progressed to the point of skin death. The skin is white and without sensation.

Regardless of the type of burn, the result is fluid accumulation and inflammation in and around the wound. Moreover, it should be noted that the skin is the body's first defense against infection by microorganisms. Damage to the skin can predispose the burn victim to both infection at the site of the wound as well as internally.

What is the significance of the total body area affected?

In addition to the intensity, the total area of the burn is significant. This is usually measured in terms of percent of total body burnt. The skin acts as a barrier from the environment, and without it, patients are subject to infection and fluid loss. Burns that cover more than 15% of the total body surface can lead to shock and require hospitalization for intravenous fluid resuscitation and skin care.

How important is the location of a burn?

Burn location is even more important than the above factors. Burns of the neck or signs of burns to the nose or mouth require emergent guarding of the patient's airway, as swelling may result in life threatening obstruction. Burned tissue shrinks and can cause damage to underlying structures. Burns that extend circumferentially around body structures require surgical release of the tissue often referred to as escharotomy. Finally, all eye burns require special attention as soon as possible. Burns to the eye may lead to clouded or lost vision.

Standard practice in burn wards

People in burn wards have known for a very long time that soaking bandages in a low concentration colloidal silver solution inhibits infection in burn victims; it literally saves their skin. In severe cases, it can even save their lives. Burn wards know this, and silver has long been used as an anti-infection agent with bandages or other medical supplies all around the world, especially in Russia, China, Japan, and Germany.

Using colloidal silver bandages for burns

Using a true colloidal silver that contains most of its silver content in the form of silver nanoparticles, it is easy to make silver bandages at home. The bandage pad is simply soaked in the colloidal silver and allowed to dry. The nanoparticles of silver impregnate the bandage material and will provide anti-microbial protection when the bandage is applied to a wound. On a smaller scale, a Band-Aid strip can be used by simply putting a few drops of colloidal silver on the pad. It can be allowed to dry and saved for later use, or it can be used while the colloidal silver is still wet on the pad. Likewise, larger wound dressing bandages can be applied while wet with colloidal silver. The colloidal silver will speed wound healing and reduce the amount of scarring.