Burns and scars (The Sunday Times, 29 October 2006)

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Q. I cook in a busy pub kitchen and often burn my arms. Is there anything I can do to reduce the appearance of the resulting scars?




A.The best cure, of course, is to take care not to get burnt, but failing that, I suggest you turn to the healing properties of essential oils, and lavender in particular. When the French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé accidentally burnt his hand while working in his lab, he plunged his arm into a vat of lavender oil and his burn not only healed quickly, but there was no infection or scarring. He dedicated the rest of his life to researching the amazing properties of plants and flowers, and wrote the book Aromatherapie, thus giving this healing system its name.

Neal’s Yard Lavender essential oil (£5.75 for 10ml; 01747 834634) can be applied directly to your skin to help heal burns. Or you could try its Aloe, Urtica & Lavender herbal cream (£4.50 for 30ml), which helps to relieve minor burns. Also, its Rosehip Seed Oil (£14 for 50ml) contains vitamins and essential fatty acids that can help to reduce scar tissue from wounds, so this would be ideal to apply when your burn is not so raw.

Finally, frankincense essential oil is known for its rejuvenating properties, and can help heal scars. Aveda’s Olibanum Oil (£15.50 for 30ml; 0870 034 2380), which contains frankincense in a coconut-oil base, can be applied directly to the affected areas.




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