Burns are one of the most common types of injuries individuals suffer. Thankfully, most of these burns will be minor and can be healed at home. However, some burns are incredibly serious and even life-threatening.
Keep reading to learn about the different levels of severity for burn injuries from the team at Physician’s Injury Clinic in McAllen.
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns — also known as superficial burns — affect only the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. One of the most common types of first-degree burns is a mild sunburn. With this type of burn, you generally won’t see any long-term tissue damage, but there may be lightening or darkening of skin color.
First-degree burns are associated with the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Redness
- Dryness
If you’ve been burned and you see symptoms that aren’t listed above, you’re likely dealing with a higher degree of burn. First-degree burns can be treated with cold compresses and petroleum jelly.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree, or partial-thickness burns, affect both the epidermis and the dermis, a part of your skin’s lower layer. More severe sunburns can cause second-degree burns, as well as flames and hot surfaces.
Second-degree burns may result in scarring. These burns are characterized by the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Redness
- Blistering
- Swelling
Not all second-degree burns will cause all of the symptoms above. Generally, you can tell the difference between first- and second-degree burns because the more severe type causes blisters.
Minor and small second-degree burns can be treated at home, but if your burn is larger than 3 inches or located on your face, hands, groin, feet, or a joint, you should see a physician for care.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree or full-thickness burns completely destroy the epidermis and dermis, sometimes extending as far as your subcutaneous tissue, the innermost layer of your skin. Third-degree burns are often caused by hot liquids, steam, flames, chemicals, and electrical currents.
Third-degree burns can cause major long-term damage, including scarring and impairment as well as infection and psychological injury. Third-degree burns may cause the following symptoms:
- Lack of pain due to destroyed nerve endings
- Yellow, black, brown, or white skin
- Swelling
- Dry, leathery skin
If you or a loved one have suffered a third-degree burn, seek immediate emergency medical care.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Fourth-degree burns, the most severe type of burn, involve the total destruction of the epidermis and dermis and damage to underlying tissue, including muscle and bone. Fourth-degree burns are most often caused by chemicals, flames, hot liquids, and hot objects. Like third-degree burns, these burns can leave patients physically scarred and impaired, in danger of complications, and at risk of mental effects. Fourth-degree burns can cause the following symptoms:
- Blackened, charred skin
- Lack of pain due to destroyed nerve endings
- Exposed bone
If you or a loved one have suffered a fourth-degree burn, seek urgent emergency care.
Medical Treatment for Burns at Physician’s Injury Clinic
If you’ve suffered a non-emergency burn in Texas, come see us at Physician’s Injury Clinic to find out the next step in your treatment.
If you’re unsure about whether or not your burn needs medical attention, don’t guess. Come see us at Physician’s Injury Clinic to get the care you need.
If you’ve suffered a non-emergency burn, you can come see a physician at Physician’s Injury Clinic to learn what treatment you need.
