Can You Apply Omega 3 Fish Oil to a Skin Burn?

Fish oil containing Omega-3 fattty acids, such as cod liver oil, has been used as a folk remedy for burns in many northern countries. Scientific studies have shown that fish oils containing Omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial to skin burns and other wounds.

Warning

• According to the Mayo Clinic, major burns should be brought to immediate medical attention and should not be treated at home. Minor burns--first-degree and second-degree burns that are smaller than three inches across and are not located in a sensitive area such as the face or groin--may be treated at home.

History

• In a paper published in 1940 in the British Medical Journal by William Clayton, cod liver oil was reported to be an effective remedy for skin burns in Scotland and was recommended for the treatment of mustard gas burns due to chemical warfare.

Function

• In a study published in the The Journal of Experimental Medicine in October 2002 by Charles N. Serhan and a team of researchers, Omega-3 oils were found to have anti-inflammatory actions on skin cells as well as multiple protective effects on the skin.

Benefits

• According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Omega-3 fatty acids have been used to promote wound healing in burn victims. They theorize that the the Omega-3 fatty acids promote a protein balance that is essential for skin burn healing.

Significance

• Besides cooling the burn, and covering it with gauze--procedures recommended by the Mayo Clinic--applying a topical coating of fish oils high in Omega-3 fatty acid may help with skin burn wound recovery.