Types of Burns

There are three degrees of burns depending on their extension into the skin layers. A fourth degree, that involves the extension of the burn to all layers of the skin and down to the bone, is often included.

First-degree burns are superficial. They only involve the epidermis without reaching deeper layers. A sunburn is a first-degree burn.

Bejinhan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Second-degree burns extend to the second layer of skin and often form blisters. They are painful and cause redness and swelling of the skin. Burns cause by boiling water or hot oil are second-degree burns.

Third-degree burns involve the entire thickness of the skin. They are lesions that leave large scars and must be cleaned through surgical debridement of the dead areas.

goga312 at Russian Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0