Burns are most unpleasant incident in our life. It can be a result of exposure to extreme heat, chemicals, electricity or radio active materials, which damages body tissues. Its symptom depends on the severity and cause of the burn but usually includes pain and sensitivity to touch. He skin may appear blistered, swollen, charred, dried, weeping, or red, grey or black colored. Silver, in its pure form, has been used as topical antiseptic for minor burns for more than 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.

Minor burns should be first cleaned with colloidal silver soap and cold water and left for drying. There after, colloidal silver may be applied topically. Topical application of colloidal silver made on blistered or open wounds prevents risk of infection. Internal use of colloidal silver is not recommended for this condition. Aloe vera, which is another constituent of soap, is also effective in treating minor burns. The stabilized aloe gel is typically applied to the affected area of skin three to five times per day. Older case studies reported that aloe gel applied topically could help heal radiation burns.

Severe burns require hospitalization. They are typically treated by surgical removal of burned tissue followed by grafting of skin or synthetic substitutes. Use of colloidal soap is not recommended for these conditions.

It is most important to understand the variety of burns that can occur in the human body. Because the treatment of burns depends on the type of burn body has faced. Doctors usually categorize treatment of burns depending on its depth, area and location. 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 turns red in color. However, sensitivity is retained which makes this type of burn 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 the third degree burns, burns the damage has progressed to the point of skin death. The skin becomes white in color and sensitivity is lost. In second and third degree burn types, fluid gets accumulated in and around the affected area. It may result in inflammation in the area surrounding it.

In addition to the intensity, the total area of the burn is also 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.

However, location of the burn is most important factor compared to factors mentioned above. For example, burn to eye requires special attention as soon as possible, because it may lead to loss in vision permanently or it may be the cause for clouded vision, both of which are difficult to reverse. Burns of the neck or signs of burns to the nose or mouth require urgent 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.

Skin is the body's first line of defense against infection by microorganisms. As the burn causes skin damage, the body becomes prone to infections. These infections can affect the wounded area as well as the area surrounding it. It can also affect internal parts as the burns skin leaves a gaping hole in the defense mechanism of the body. Therefore, it is most important to prevent infections in the aftermath of burn injury. Here colloidal silver comes into the picture which is so effective in fighting infections.

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.

It is very easy to make silver bandages at home using a true colloidal silver that contains most of its silver content in the form of silver nano particles. 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

For minor burns, natural medicine may be helpful after the burn is cleaned with soap and cold water and gently dried. Because of the risk of infection, topical applications should not be made to blistered or open burn wounds, unless under medical supervision. Extensive burns or burns causing more than minor discomfort should be treated by a healthcare professional.