Burns

A burn is damage to the tissue due to heat, fire, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, radiation, or steam from liquids or gases.

Burns are classified as follows:

Superficial skin burns injure the first layer of skin. A non-blistering sunburn is an example.
Superficial partial-thickness burns injure the first and second layers of the skin. A blistering sunburn is an example.
Deep partial-thickness burns extend even deeper into the skin.
Full-thickness burns injure all layers of the skin and damage tissues under the skin, including muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels.

Symptoms

Superficial Partial-Thickness Burns

The burns:

Are painful and red
Seep fluid
Usually form blisters

Deep Partial-Thickness Burns

The burns:

Extend deeper into the skin
Are painful
Almost always form blisters

Full-Thickness Burns

This type of burn usually requires surgical treatment for grafting, and the scarring is severe.

Treatment

For lesser degrees of damage to the skin, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic cream to prevent infection. For severe damage, skin grafting will be performed to replace the damaged skin.

Minor Burns (Superficial and Superficial-Partial Thickness)

Take the following steps:

Run cool water over the burn.
Remove any accessories around the burn.
Apply aloe vera cream or an antibiotic cream such as bacitracin and cover with a clean bandage or dressing.
Take over the counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
Protect newly healed burns from cold exposure due to the increased risk of frostbite.
As these burns can sunburn easily, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for the first year after a burn to protect the skin.

Superficial burns usually heal in 3–6 days.

Superficial partial-thickness burns usually heal in 1–3 weeks.

Major Burns (Deep-Partial and Full-Thickness)

Call 911.

In the meantime, you should:

Elevate the burned area.
Cover the area with a cool, moist bandage or cloth.

If Someone Else Gets Burned