How to Make DIY Aloe Vera Burn Cream

We all know how painful minor burns can be. You leave your hand on the burner for a couple seconds too long or get a little too close when tossing wood on the bonfire, and ouch!

While not life-threatening, minor burns tend to cause painful swelling and are stubbornly slow to heal…and they can still leave behind unwanted scars.

So, if you're looking for a natural way to soothe burns, this DIY burn cream is for you. Made with aloe vera and vitamin E, it's gentle on the skin and easy to whip up in your kitchen.

Quick note: For serious burns, you should always seek professional medical treatment.

DIY Burn Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup aloe vera gel

• 1 tablespoon vitamin E oil

• 1 tablespoon raw honey                                

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well-combined. (If you use fresh aloe vera straight from the leaf you may need to blend it separately first.)

2. Pour the mixture into a small jar or container.

3. Apply to clean, dry skin as needed (usually several times a day).

4. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week if you are using fresh aloe vera gel, or longer if you are using a commercial aloe vera gel.

Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel for Burns

The main ingredient in this DIY burn cream is aloe vera, for good reason!

Aloe vera gel is cooling and moisturizing, with anti-inflammatory compounds. It also has antimicrobial properties and has been shown to prevent bacterial growth on infected burn wounds.

Packed with antioxidant vitamins, aloe vera can also boost skin health by preventing further cellular damage and aiding in healing. Lastly, one study on aloe vera’s effects for wound healing indicated that the glycoproteins in aloe vera might increase cell migration and proliferation to speed the skin healing process.

Benefits of Vitamin E Oil for Burns

Vitamin E oil is another great ingredient for treating minor burns. Like aloe vera, it is an anti-inflammatory and can help hydrate areas of dry skin caused by minor burns. Although there is actually some vitamin E in aloe vera, the concentration is not very high, so adding extra oil to your diy burn cream helps increase the vitamin absorption.

In addition to being an anti-inflammatory, vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from free radical damage while promoting collagen production. In other words, vitamin E can help prevent burn scarring in addition to providing temporary burn relief.

Benefits of Honey for Burns

Honey has fantastic antimicrobial properties, effectively inhibiting infections from over 80 species of microorganisms (mostly bacteria.)

In part, honey has amazing capabilities as an antimicrobial because it forms hydrogen peroxide when mixed with water.

And…aloe vera gel is mostly water! This makes an aloe vera and honey mixture great for covering burns and preventing infections.

Additionally, honey is a natural humectant, meaning it helps draw moisture to the skin and keep it hydrated. When used on burns, honey creates a barrier that protects the wound while keeping it moist.

By combining these three simple ingredients, you can make a burn cream that's gentle on the skin (although sticky!) and works to soothe and heal minor burns quickly.