Aluminum Foil for Burns: A Natural Remedy for Pain Relief

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Courtney (Talbott, Tn) on 06/04/2015
★★★★★

I burnt my hand with a cigarette tried cold water, freeze spray, mustard, holding cold drinks, potatoes, then googled what helped saw aluminum foil, thought it was crazy but worth a shot. It helped within an hour. Shocked but loved the relief. (:

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Sam (Miami) on 06/06/2015

Or try moist baking soda until pain subsides. No skin peeling or scars afterward. Apply baking soda right away, but keep it moist.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Rose (PA, US) on 03/22/2015

You're never supposed to put ice on a burn....

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Ncrules (North Carolina, US) on 02/08/2015
★★★★★

Aluminum Foil for Burns

When I found this remedy I was at my wits end. I had taken a bowl out of the microwave and the steam from it hit the top of my hand. I have never felt such excreciating pain.

I tried putting my hand in cold water but every time I took it out the pain would be back. I also tried neosporin but that didn't work either.

When I saw the idea of aluminum foil I really did think it was crazy. But I decided to try it after reading all of the positive responses. I would say that it does really hurt for the first few minutes. But I stuck it out and after about 20 minutes...it felt much better. I started at about 9pm and by 10pm the pain is pretty much gone. My fingers are still a bit red and if I do feel a bit of soreness if I touch my fingers. But I am AMAZED at how much better I feel. I am also relieved since that pain was unlike any other pain I have EVER felt.

I highly recommend trying it.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Bc (India) on 11/02/2014
★★★★★

Absolutely brilliant. Thanks so much for the tip and to everyone who took the time to write on here and convince me (I'm returning the favour now, for the next sceptic! )

I scalded my whole thigh with a pan of boiling water (my dress got caught on the cooker as I was taking the pan to the sink and I got jerked back - ouch! ) - I put it under running cold water for nearly an hour and was in too much pain when I tried to take it out, so I googled and came across this.

I have no aloe vera, so I just went for the foil. Yes it hurt tons for the first five minutes but that subsided and it just felt better and better. The redness has gone down loads after two hours now, as has the pain. I was completey sceptical, but figured I had nothing to lose. So glad I know this works now. (Please always do the cold running water for 20-30 mins part first as that is medically-proven to be efficacious and don't use ice as that can damage skin).

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Kelly (Stoke On Trent England) on 12/19/2013
★★★★★

It works set fire to my hand while trying to refill a BBQ lighter. In agony. Every time I took my hand out of cold water. After an hour if trying to make it stop hurting and out of desperation I applied petroleum jelly and foil. It got worse at first but then stopped! My husband thinks it is very funny that I'm sitting with a tin foil glove but I don't care I'm just glad it's stopped!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Daniel (Sao Paulo, Brazil) on 03/17/2013
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I was cooking some fish in a steel pan in the oven pulled it out and a minute later went to move it without an oven glove. The oven was set to 250 degrees celcius so I quickly put my palm under cold running water for about 5 minutes. I then took out the frozen peas and placed a dish towel around it and rested my palm on it for another 20 minutes. Then it was on to placing my palm in a bowl of cold water which I added a few cubes of ice in every 15 minutes or so for about 2 more hours. When I would take my hand out of the water the pain would soar within 5 seconds so I tried the foil.

I made myself a glove with the foil and held onto a cold can that was in the fridge I actually soon after went to sleep holding the can and when I woke up a few hours later the pain had disappeared. I put on some moisturisers and aloe vera and 24 hrs later it's great no blisters just a red mark of the pan handle which should be gone in a couple of days. I have had various kitchen burns and my best advice is leave it in cold water or place an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on it until the pain is gone when you take it off. It may take many hours but it's always worked for me.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Joe (Arima, Trinidad) on 12/24/2012
★★★★★

I got burned from a power washer muffler, placed ice on it and this kept the pain away, but as soon as I removed the ice the pain came back. I looked up how to treat this type of burn and came to this page. Today is Christmas eve and after reading the post with aluminum foil I thought to myself, "like I must be a Turkey going to be baked" the pain was so intense that I was willing to try the aluminum foil, at first the pain increased but 40 minutes after I'm posting this, it really works. Thanks guys.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Karen (Olive Branch, Ms) on 11/22/2012
★★★★★

While preparing Thanksgiving dinner I placed my right hand down on a burner, searing the skin on my fingers and palm. Nothing would releave the pain except to keep my hand under cold running water. I tried burn gel and spray, alcohol.... And none of these would work for very long. Desperate, I decided to use the aluminum foil, which I wrapped my hand and fingers in. I grasp a cold can of soda since it does not work instantly. I would say after about an hour I was able to let go of the cold can and just keep the foil on. After about 2 hours I was able to take the foil off and am almost pain free. Wow I would never have believed that this could work. I certainly didn't learn this in nursing school or 20 years working in the medical field. I am sold on the foil!!!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Julie (Port Charlotte, Fl) on 11/08/2012
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Last night, my husband burned his elbow with an air gun. We wrapped aluminum foil around it for about 15 minutes (shiny side on the skin). The pain was gone almost immediately, and all that remains today is a red spot-no blister. He's an AC tech & explained that it works by heat transference-the alum. Foil pulls the the heat away from the skin and disperses it. I always refer to this site first. But this is my first post :-)

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Kitchenaide (Yukon, Oklahoma) on 01/12/2012
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So, being the skeptic that I am, I read these remedies for burns but waited another hour to give the foil a try. Earlier this evening I was checking some squash cooking in the microwave. Knowing full well to watch out for the steam locked in the cling wrap, I hurriedly grabbed the plastic and tried to quickly lift. So, apparently, my cat like reflexes had the night off unbeknownst to me. I was burned really bad on the top of my thumb as the plastic stuck to my forefinger exposing my thumb to the direct line of steam. That crap won't stick to anything before, how strange it chose to do so to my finger.

After running under cold water for 5 minutes, then keeping an ice pack on it for 2 hours, and finally a bag of frozen sweet corn for an additional 1.5 hrs, I resigned myself to finding additional relief on the Internet as it was still extremely painful when not in contact of direct cold. The tinfoil remedy worked to alleviate the worst of the burning within 15-20 minutes. I'm no baby to pain. I'm a mother of 5, and have accidentally gotten my hand in a deep fryer while helping my chef at my job. That flipping hurt, but this was strangely worse. It works for stopping the immediate pain. Some burning does come and go. I will sleep with the foil on and pray there is no blistering come morning. Thanks

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Joey (Birch Bay, WA) on 02/02/2009
★★★★★

Old family cure from Nova Scotia! If you get a burn of any kind (Steam, etc) wrap the burned area in aluminum foil and leave it be! Depending on the severity of the burn, it will generally be healed within 5 to 15 minutes. You'll feel it get cool and you can check the progress if you like, but this heals like nothing else does! I know it sounds wierd, but the first time I tried it, I became a believer - I always have a box of foil on the counter when I'm cooking, just in case!!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Amy-May (Birmingham, England) on 04/03/2009
★★★★★

i had badly cut my hand and the nurse said its a bad friction burn and i'd have to take painkillers, i did that but the pain still remained. so i looked up how to stop it from scarring and hurting, not help at all.. then i found this site. The aluminum foil really helped, i used the non shiney side of it and it stung from the pressure on the burn, after 10 mins there was no pain at all, it will scar [ but thats because of how severe it is ] atleast it doesn't hurt though, thanks xx [ i'm 17, have to live with it forever! ]

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Josh (Pittsburgh, PA) on 06/07/2009
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In response to the "nay" for aluminum foil... a little science (and actually trying it) will go a long way to believing it. First of all, aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat, so when you put it against something hot, it will conduct any heat from the point of contact until it can't hold anymore thermal energy, or the stored energy dissapates into a cooler mass (usually air) so more can be conducted from the heat source. For the same scientific reasons, it also transfers cold equally as well (cold is simply the lack of heat). A basic burn injury actually dissapates alot of its heat before any treatment is actually given anyway, provided the source of the burn is removed (i.e. hot oil, steam, hot metal conductor, etc). The internal body temperature agitates the burn causing more pain that lasts even after cooling it off under cold water (NOT TO BE DONE TO EXTENSIVE BURNS). In short, the foil acts as a conductor of your body heat, alleviating pain due to added warmth on the burn. It works quite well. For extensive burns, seek professional help, preferably from a specialized burn center over a general hospital.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Csmith (Ivins, Utah) on 12/23/2009
★★★★★

I burned my hand while baking. Not thinking about it, I grabbed the very hot pan that just came out of the oven. It burned my palm. I apply cold water and ice packs to my hand for 10 hours and still the pain was extreme. So I looked up on the internet of what could help and came to this site. I read about wrapping the burned area in aluminum foil, and thought that it would not work. But tried it anyways, and about 5 minutes later, the pain was gone. I just couldnt believe it, so I wanted to share my story that I am now a believer with the aluminum foil and burns.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Lvkl4l (Le Sueur, Mn) on 01/08/2010
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Yeah! I was skeptical of this at first. I tried it & couldn't believe how well it works! I burned my finger serverly on steam (not bad enough to require medical attn., but still bad). I tried the cold water, vanilla, ointment...nothing really helped it out long term. So I searched the net & found this site. I thought I'd try the foil trick. Low & behold about 30 min. after I put it on, my finger was 100% better! I still have 2 spots that got it the worst that I'm still treating, but I can't believe the difference it made!!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Gif_girl (Berlin, Germany) on 04/30/2010
★★★★★

YES YES YES YES YES!!! my finger olive oil burn went from scream-worthy searing painful (couldn't turn the tap off for more than 15 seconds) to completely docile and dull within 5 minutes!!! didn't have any foil so my boyfriend put a toblerone wrapper on it. i highly recommend this remedy, thank you nova scotia!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Maria (Seattle, Wa) on 10/18/2010
★★★★★

I accidentally poured some coffee on my hand at work. I wrapped some ice in a few paper towels and put that on my hand. It worked, but after an hour my hand was still hurting whenever the ice came off. It was really hard to work around the ice pack too, so I started looked for other remedies. Since I was at work I didn't have a lot of the stuff around, but we did have foil. At first it burned, but I saw someone say that that went away after 5 minutes and another said 10. After 15 it still stung. I put on another piece of foil so that no air was hitting the burn and presto! No more pain.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Sara (Jeff City, Mo) on 10/27/2010
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I thought you all were nuts but my thumb hurt so badly from touching the baking sheet about 2 hours ago that I couldn't take the ice pack away from it for more than 20 seconds without screaming pain coming back so I thought what the heck.. I had some foil in the kitchen and decided to go for it. The initial pain was very intense and I wanted to go back to the ice pack and wimp out but I did some heavy breathing and stuck through the pain. It's been about 10 minutes and while the pain is still there, it is now very dull and very tolerable. Thanks for the info. You made me a believer!!!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Kristen (St. Peters, Mo) on 11/07/2010
★★★★★

I touched a sizzleing hot steak plate, burnt my thumb so bad, could only stay off ice for 7 seconds at a time for a full hour, tried the aluminum foil wrapping... Shiny side in, within 10 mins all pain was gone! I can't wait to burn myself again! .... :| j/k

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Lori (Denver, Colorado) on 01/29/2011
★★★★★

It worked!!! My son, 9, burnt his finger On a glass pan straight out of the oven. Nothing was working to take his pain away. Found your sight and thought... Well... Tried it and within 2 minutes NO PAIN!!!! After an hour, we removed the foil and all is well. WOW, I am so gratefull to whom ever posted this originally and for the testimonials. THANK YOU

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Christy (Great Falls, Montana) on 03/16/2011
★★★★★

It works! I burnt my right index finger on hot glue in art class, my fingertip turned all red and it hurt so badly! I thought it'd get better after awhile, but after crying through lunch, I knew something was wrong. So I was going to put some burn cream on my finger so I could do my homework on the computer, but my brother was in the shower. I was desperate for help, and googled how to help a burn. I found the aluminum foil remidy, and was VERY skeptical, but I figured I couldn't get any worse, so I tried it and it works! It's nuts! I'm sooooo glad I found this! :D

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Carly (Seattle, Wa Usa) on 03/17/2011

Really wierd huh? About a month ago I was putting a log into my woodstove, and accidentally pushed the top of my thumb (right below the nail bed) into a very hot part of the interior of the stove.

I immediately said a few choice words to myself and then went to the kitchen and got out a piece of aluminum foil. I had been keeping this EC cure in the back of my mind, and now the time had come to try it.

It never hurt at all! I have done this exact same burn in the past, (darned woodstove! ) and it should have started throbbing within a few mins, but it never did! I kept the foil on for about an hour or so.

Here it is a month later, and I still have a pink line below my thumbnail to show for it. It was a deep burn, and the foil really, really worked.

Thanks Earth Clinic and EC posters!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Wendy (Los Angeles, California, Usa) on 05/05/2011
★★★★★

having trouble writing cuz of the tin foil on my burnt finger - pain is gone!!! cannot believe it..wow

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Cee Cee (Charleston, Wv, Usa) on 05/30/2011

Aluminum Foil is the best for burns... Who would've thought?

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Melanyh (Houston, Tx, Us) on 06/18/2011
★★★★★

YEA! I burned myself with cooking oil this morning, leaving a silver dollar-size burn on my wrist. I immediately ran it under cold water, but it still hurt terribly & looked like it was going to blister. I sprayed an OTC product on it, and it cooled it while the spray was wet. When it dried, the pain returned. I tried this remedy, per the site, and am pleasantly surprised. I took a 2" strip of foil and wrapped it around my wrist like a bracelet, securing it with a hair band (not too tight, of course). It felt better after a few minutes, but I have left it on for nearly an hour now & don't feel any more pain. In addition, the redness is almost completely gone. Thank you so much for this wonderful remedy!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Rose33090 (Atlanta, Ga) on 07/12/2011
★★★★★

Thank goodness I found this site. I got 2nd degree burns (blisters and worst pain I have ever had) on 3 fingers from an industrial size curling iron. I had kept them in ice water but could only get real relief from holding an ice cube with fingers till it melted, then another, etc. For 6 hours at that time but if I took my fingers out of water for even a few seconds, incredible pain returned.

I read this blog and tried the foil, shiny side to burn, wrapped each finger individually and still had to put back into water, but after maybe 15 minutes, did not need to add any more ice. The pain lessened greatly over the next 2 hours. After about 4 hours, there was no pain. Took fingers out of water and removed foil. I had no more blisters and no more pain. It's been 4 days and other than my fingers feeling like very dry skin (and if you knew where the blisters were you can see the outlines), I have not had any problems. This blog was a real saver.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Relieved!!! (Huntsville, Alabama Usa) on 07/17/2011
★★★★★

I steam burned my pointer finger on my left hand while removing a lid from a pot of boiling water. The pain was intense! I soaked it in cold water for about an hour. It felt better, but was killing me whenever I removed it from the water. I tried some aloe vera I had from the store. It did nothing to relieve the pain. I looked on here and tried the egg whites. I was greatly dissapointed. It just started to hurt more. I was about to give up, but decided I could try the aluminum foil. At first it hurt so badly I wanted to scream. But while I sat with it on, I read more and more testimonials. It felt only slightly better. Then after reading one of the testimonials, I wondered if I had wrapped it too many times. So I began to unwrap it (about 15 min into the process). I accidentally unwrapped it all the way, and suddenly realized it felt 100% better. CRAZY!!! So, a believer! You should try it, you'll be amazed!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 07/18/2011

Ditto for me. Having seen the aluminum foil work twice for my kids, I ran for it yesterday for a angry red burn. The first few minutes it hurt so much, I was going to give up and put my finger in cold water, but before 5 minutes were up, it stopped hurting! I kept it on for an hour just to make sure, and now there is barely a pink mark.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Blanche (Iberia Parish, Louisiana Usa) on 07/18/2011

I used this more than once and it does work. I'd like to add that the smoother the foil is against your skin the better. If it is too wrinkled there are some places that don't get touched with the foil. Also if you tape it on, try not to use the tape directly above the burned area, as the heat will just stay there against the tape.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Jodes (Brisbane, Australia) on 07/24/2011
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well I burnt 4 of my fingers pretty bad tonight taking a pan out of the oven. They blistered pretty much instantly. I had put cream on them had them in water for about 4 hours. Couldn't take them out the pain was really bad, so I found this site. Have now got the foil on my 4 fingers and it does work. It took 5 minutes thank you everyboby for repling because I probally wouldn't have tried it.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Mariela (Mainz, Germany) on 07/29/2011
★★★★★

Ha! Who would have thought? I have spent the last 5 hours wrapping my fingers in ice packs. I was opening the lid of my casserole and burned 3 fingers with the steam. I was going crazy with the pain and was ready to do anything to make the pain stop, after not even getting much relief with the ice packs. I was scared to take my fingers out of the ice pack, so I started with the least severe one, and after about 5 minutes it did stop hurting! I thank you all so much, because all of your comments encouraged me to take one finger out at a time and to try this remedy. God bless you and this amazing site!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Hayy12 (Sunshine Coast, Australia) on 08/31/2011
★★★★★

oh wow, I burnt my finger with boiling hot oil tonight, I sat there in tears with ice cold water on it for about 4hours, everytime I took my finger out for about 2seconds it would start burning up again, it was so painful that I felt like chopping my finger off haha.

Then I come on here and put aluminium foil on it for 5minutes and the pain has gone, not completly but enough to bare with, thanks guys can finally get some sleep

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Annette (Bangkok, Thailand) on 10/17/2011
★★★★★

I burnt my fingers and palm badly when I picked up my curling wand by the heated end. The pain was intense, and I got small relief with ice packs, but I knew I would have problems the next day (and indeed for the next week) unless I could find another remedy.

I admit I was skeptical about the alfoil remedy, but I wrapped up each finger individually in foil, and then my palm, and the pain intensified. The pads of my fingers were throbbing. I kept reading all the comments about the foil, and thought, "just be patient; it will get better". ANd indeed it did. After about 20 mins the pain huad subsided substantially. I kept pressing the foil on my fingers which seemed to draw more heat out.

I went to bed with the foil still on, and a pair of cotton gloves to hold it in place. This morning I had 3 small blisters on my fingers, but no pain. I am amazed, as normally that type of burn would cause quite a bit of damage.

Thanks so much to everyone for the great advice - I am passing this on to all my friends with children.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Elaine (Charleston, Il) on 05/24/2012
★★★★★

It really is a miracle. A burn that would have kept me bandaged for days was practically all better in 12 hours.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Timh (KY) on 02/09/2015 2042 posts

Thanx for the report Nc:

Seeing so many positive reports on Aluminum foil for minor burns, it makes me wonder about major or severe burns. Those horrible burns of the 9/11 WTC victims!

I am not privy to the modern medical protocols used in emergency or long term care for burn victims, but I would bet a paycheck that the mineral Zinc is not used at least orally simply because it's not a pharmaceutical drug. Maybe lucky to have some zinc in topical ointments.

Anyway, from what little research I've encountered, Zinc is critical for surviving severe burns for two reasons. One, in traumas like major burns, the body rapidly mobilizes zinc stores and fuels the immune system which is in hyperdrive. After the acute phase, Zinc plays another critical role in healing of the damaged tissues.

Maybe a combination of Aluminum Foil and 50-100mg Zinc would make a difference for those in the 2nd degree category. Below normal 70 degree room temps, maybe like 50-60 degrees would help level the immune response and prevent shock or coma (acquire stability).

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Amy (California, US) on 02/01/2015
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I was using the glue gun and thought I was using the low temp one...I wasn't! I got high temp hot glue on my thumb and pointer finger to the point of white blisters asap. Two and half hours of cool water, advil, meditation and still throbbing. I found your site!!!!!!!! I put it on the worst one, the thumb and within 5 minutes the pain has gone, the blisters don't look as bad.!!! MAGIC! WOW! I was about tot go to the ER...now will go back to my planned day! I also tried the potato trick nothing....... this tin foil as I call it from my youth is amazing!!!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Debby B (Australia) on 01/03/2015
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I am amazed, pulled a burning hot rack out of preheated oven, pain was unbelievable, searched net and found this, fingers and hand looked red raw, I picked a stick of aloe vera I had growing and smothered my hand in the gel, placed aluminium foil over that, and rubbed ice over foil, 20 mins and I had some relief, this morning my hand is like it never happened and no pain, thank you, I keep looking at my hand. I find it unbelievable...... They should be doing this in hospitals....!!!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Softball_429 (Home) on 12/22/2014
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I burned my hand on the oven rack. immediately put water, then aloe. It still burned so came on here and tried the foil. It's only been 10 min. and the pain is gone!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Jimmy O. (New York, NY) on 12/12/2014
★★★★★

Hard to type - foil on fingers. Aloe too. Works! Oh God why did I wait 4 hours to come into Earth Clinic?? Thank you all so much. God Bless.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Christina (Connecticut, US) on 11/17/2014
★★★★★

I can't believe it but this really works!!! I burnt my index finger on the stove tonight really bad. It had big blisters and everything. I had soaked it in ice water for 4 hours. I tried pain spray, soaking in milk, aloe Vera, even tea bags. I then searched some more and found this site. I figured it can't hurt to try. If I took my finger out of the ice water for 30 seconds I was in excruciating pain. When I first put the foil on my finger I thought I was going to die it hurt so bad so I laid the foil wrapped finger on a ice cube for the first ten minutes and that help a lot. When I took it off the ice after 10 minutes I couldn't believe it the pain had lessened. I have had it on now for about 40 minutes no more ice and the pain is down to practically nothing. This is an amazing cure and I thank all you people for posting to help people like me who thought the pain would never go away and was worrying about how I was going to sleep. Thanks again!!!

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Paula (Ohio, US) on 11/10/2014
★★★★★

I used retinol cream on my neck and chest. After the third day I noticed some tingling sensation. By that night the damage was done. My neck and chest were red and throbbing with pain. I took probably more pain pills than I should, and still searing pain. Would put aloe (we have a plant), bactine, Aquafor, anything. NOTHING. I was pacing the floor at 3 a.m. with no relief. I googled a burn and started reading about the foil. How stupid. Being as desperate as I am...(thinking of going to E.R.) I'll try it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? It worked. I am sitting here with minor bearable pain. I can't believe it. I have never wrote on a site for review but I am speechless.

Aluminum Foil

Posted by Catherine (Glasgow, Scotland) on 10/31/2014
★★★★☆

Burnt myself on boiling toffee making toffee apples (I know, ridiculous) and after 5 hours of keeping my finger in a glass of water decided I needed to find a remedy that would allow me to actually go to sleep! Came here and tried the aluminium foil trick. When I put it on my finger felt really hot and sore, more so than before. Now it's still sore, but not as much as it had been without it - still waiting so hopefully it'll begin to get less painful with time!