This image – shared as a warning to others – shows the horrific result after a woman tried to soothe her burned hand with toothpaste and it ended up looking unrecognisable.
Malaysian medic Dr Kamarul Ariffin said the woman had attempted the home remedy after burning her hand with scorching hot oil.
But instead of soothing her pain, her hand ballooned up until it was misshaped and almost unrecognisable.
Dr Ariffin warned that using such home remedies for burns could backfire, by causing infection and irritation.
As well as toothpaste, he had come across people using oil, flour, soy sauce, eggs and butter as so-called treatments for burns.
Dr Ariffin instead urged people to follow medical advice in the event of suffering a burn.
This includes removing any burnt clothing, jewellery or watches from the affected area, if possible, and then rinsing it with clean, room temperature water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Dr Arrifin said burns sufferers should never pop any blisters or attempt to treat their injuries with very cold water or ice.
People with more serious burns, or burns that were larger than the palm of their hand or on sensitive area, should seek medical attention, he added.
Toothpaste giants Colgate have posted advice on their website to people who are tempted to use toothpaste to treat burns.
It warns: “Toothpaste contains abrasives and detergents, which work well for cleaning your teeth, but not so well when in easing the pain of a burn.”
Dr Arrifin’s post sparked a lively debate on social media where a number of netizens asked him whether aloe vera could be used to treat burns.
He replied: “Stop the burning first. Run water first. If it’s a first degree burn, can apply aloe vera. If it’s second or third degree, see a doctor first before applying anything.”
Netizen ‘tyraYANA’ commented: “Thank you so much doctor” while ‘Kaveeeen’ noted: “So suggesting toothpaste for everything might not be the best idea after all.”
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Story By: Simon Glover, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder,  Agency: Asia Wire Report
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