How To Fix A Curling Iron Burn — Poor Stefanie Scott
Courtesy of Instagram
Wearing gorgeous waves or curls in your hair is trendy and fun, but can be dangerous — just ask Stefanie Scott, who got burned, literally!
Stefanie Scott, 18, posted this adorable pic on Instagram on Oct. 15, writing: “check out that curling iron burn on my right shoulder.” We asked three experts to break it down — how to prevent curling iron burns and what to do if you get one!
Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital says:
“Thermal injuries, whether from the sun or from your curling iron causes physical damage to your skin cells. The two main goals in treating burns are to repair your skin barrier and prevent any infection. Occlusive ointments that contain white petrolatum should be your go-to because they form a protective seal over the skin. This allows the skin to heal itself from the inside out. For deeper burns or open wounds, opt for OTC bacitracin ointment to prevent any infection.
In the office, I frequently give out prescriptions for a burn cream call silver sulfadiazine. It forms a protective layer over the skin and the silver kills bacteria. If you are a frequent hair curler, it is not a bad idea to have a stash at home for emergencies.”
Curling Iron Burn — How To Heal & Prevent It
Marisa Martino, co-founder of SKINNEY Medspa adds: “Curling iron burns can be painful (and can look like a hickey if in the right spot). To help heal skin fast: 1. Cool the area. Put a cold compress (not ice) on the burn to draw out remaining heat. 2. Don’t touch! Covering the burn with makeup right away can do more harm than good. Makeup contains chemicals that can irritate the burn more. Step 3: Put an antibiotic ointment on, such as Bacitracin or Neosporin. Step 4: Wait. Your body needs time to heal and make new skin. Keep the burn dry and don’t put any cleansers or products directly on area.”
Max Gierl, Senior Stylist at mizu new york salon says:
“Use an Aloe Vera plant. If you don’t have access to an actual Aloe Vera plant, try a gel like The Body Shops Aloe Vera Soothing Gel. Remember that a green based concealer will mask the redness from the burn, then follow with your color concealer/foundation. Try Susan Posnick’s COLORCORRECT — it is creamy and feels nice on skin.
How to avoid a burn in the first place: Hold your hair up! It not only will keep the hot tool away from your shoulders and face, it will give you a more natural and voluminous wave in your hair. When the curl falls down with gravity, it’ll open up a bit more and will be more voluminous.”
Have you ever gotten a curling iron burn?
— Dory Larrabee-Zayas