Getting burned is never any fun, but these kinds of injuries are common. According to the American Burn Association, 200 cases are typically admitted at burn centers every year for some sort of burn-related injury or disorder. Perhaps the most common kind of burn is sunburn. If not treated properly, a sunburn can impact your life significantly.
When you do get burned, it’s important to recognize the different kinds of burns, as each requires a different type of medical attention. First, second and third-degree burns can each be treated with home remedies or professional medical care. This guide will explain how to identify the three levels of burns and what you should do to address them, including the more serious burns. It will also describe the ways you can treat burns without necessarily heading to the emergency room.
First-degree burns
First-degree burns damage the topmost layer of the skin, sometimes called the epidermis. This level of burn is identified by the redness, swelling, and pain felt in the affected area. In some cases, a first-degree burn can start to become dry or even peel after a few days.
While first-degree burns can be uncomfortable, they are considered the least severe kind of burn because they only impact the surface layer of the skin. If you receive a first-degree burn, you may not expect permanent damage, which is another reason they’re not considered as severe as second or third-degree burns.
According to the National Institutes of Health, one of the most common causes of first-degree burns is the sun. Sunburns occur when the skin is exposed to UV rays for an extended period of time and may manifest as redness on the skin along with a fair bit of pain. But the sun isn’t the only cause of first-degree burns. Other common sources include hot water, steam, or the skin coming into contact with any kind of hot object or surface. Exposure to fire can also cause a first-degree burn.
Identifying first-degree burns
According to Penn Medicine, first-degree burns are typically identified by symptoms like redness, pain or swelling in the affected area. It may also be warm or mildly itchy. The skin is usually sensitive to the touch of temperature changes, too.
In some cases, the burned skin can become dry, raised, or even scaly and blistery. Peeling may also occur with a first-degree burn after a few days. These symptoms may last for a few days or longer depending on the severity of the first-degree burn, but they typically heal on their own with proper care.
Treating first-degree burns
With the right care and treatment of a first-degree burn, symptoms usually subside within a few days. You can treat a first-degree burn at home by applying a cool compress or running cold water over the affected area. This is especially soothing for thermal burns, where running water over the burn for 10-15 minutes can provide relief. Cold compresses can also be beneficial in treating first-degree burns at home. If the pain is a little more severe, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers.
Aloe vera gel is another great at-home remedy for first-degree burns. The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe can help soothe burns, especially sunburns. For thermal burns, antibiotic creams like Neosporin can help promote healing while fighting off infection.
Always keep the burned area clean and dry. If the burned area covers a large portion of your body, it’s important to seek the advice of a dermatologist right away. This is especially important if the burn occurred on a young child or an older adult.
Second-degree burns
Penn Medicine defines second-degree burns impact two layers of skin: the epidermis, and the dermis — the deeper layer of skin below the epidermis. These burns are considered more severe than first-degree because they impact two layers of skin and can result in permanent damage like scarring.
Like first-degree burns, second-degree burns can result in redness, pain, swelling and blistering. In some cases, second-degree burns can also require medical attention.
Identifying second-degree burns
Second-degree burns are classified into two types: superficial and deep partial-thickness burns. The depth of the burn determines which type it is. Superficial partial-thickness burns impact the top layer of the dermis. They are typically red, moist, and painful with blistering.
Deep partial-thickness burns go a bit deeper and can appear white or yellow and may have a dry or leather-like texture. Sometimes, the affected area of a deep partial-thickness burn might be less painful than the area around a superficial partial-thickness burn, but they usually take longer to heal.
Second-degree burns are also more likely to get infected. To tell if a second-degree burn has become infected, look out for pain, swelling, redness or even an odor coming from the wound. That smell could be bacteria growth and should be addressed by a medical professional right away.
Treating second-degree burns
As with any burn, treating a second-degree burn depends on a few factors, including where the burn is located. Most of the time, you can treat a second-degree burn with the same methods as first-degree burns including antibiotic creams, pain medications and cold compresses.
If the burn is swelling, elevating the affected area can help reduce that. If blisters are present, don’t pop them — no matter how tempting that might be. Instead, keep second-degree burn blisters covered. As always, keep the burned area clean and dry, and seek medical attention if the burn covers a large area. While second-degree burns aren’t life-threatening, they do usually require medical attention.
If you have a second-degree burn that needs to be looked at by a doctor, you can seek help from your general practitioner, an urgent care center or the emergency room in drastic cases.
Third-degree burns
Third-degree burns are the worst kind of burn as they can cause significant and lasting damage to the skin, per Penn Medicine. This kind of burn goes so deep, the hair follicles, glands, and nerve endings of the skin are also usually impacted. Typically, a third-degree burn will result in scarring. In severe cases, loss of limbs or negative impacts on the body. Most of the time, the hair won’t grow back on skin that has a third-degree burn, but there are options available to repair that damage.
Identifying third-degree burns
When it comes to identifying a third-degree burn, look for white, leathery, or waxy skin. In the worst cases, it will appear charred or blackened. Numbness and difficulty moving are also often associated with third-degree burns, as there’s damage to the nerves. This nerve damage can mean that you might not feel any pain in the impacted area.
Treating third-degree burns
Treating a third-degree burn usually results in seeking help from a medical facility where intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and pain medication can be administered to manage symptoms. In more severe cases, surgeons will perform reconstructive surgery with skin grafts.
In these cases, long-term rehabilitation is required. After the surgery, you may need to go through occupational and/or physical therapy to regain your strength and flexibility depending on the size, location and severity of the burn. In less severe cases where reconstructive surgery is used to repair scarring or the general appearance of the skin won’t require as much extensive healing.
To learn more about reconstructive surgery after a third-degree burn, consult a licensed dermatologist. Sometimes, a dermatologist may recommend a plastic surgeon or another professional if the surgery required is extensive enough.