How Are Burns Classified?
Burns are categorized by severity, which helps guide treatment and determine the extent of the injury. Medical professionals typically classify burns into the following categories:
- First-degree burns: Affect only the outer layer of skin (epidermis); symptoms include redness, mild swelling, and pain.
- Second-degree burns: Involve both the epidermis and the underlying dermis; symptoms may include blisters, intense pain, and possible scarring.
- Third-degree burns: Destroy all layers of skin and may affect underlying tissue; the area may appear white, charred, or leathery, and nerve damage can result in numbness.
- Fourth-degree burns: Extend through skin and tissue to muscle or bone; these are life-threatening and require extensive medical intervention.
Understanding the classification of your burn injury can help determine the appropriate treatment and whether you may be eligible for compensation.
What Are the Different Types of Burns?
Not all burn injuries are alike. Depending on what burned you and the degree of your burn, the level of severity could vary greatly. These are some common types of burns:
- Thermal burns raise the temperature of the skin and its tissues, resulting in tissue cell death.
- These types of burns are typically caused by scalding liquids, steam, hot metals, and flames.
- Radiation burns are caused by prolonged exposure to UV rays or other sources of radiation.
- Chemical burns could be caused by detergents, solvents, or strong acids.
- Electrical burns could be caused by either a direct current or an alternating current.
There are also different degrees of burns—first, second, and third degree. Third-degree burns are the most severe as they destroy the epidermis and dermis and could also damage the bones, muscles, and tendons. When the bones, muscles, and tendons sustain burns, it is commonly a fourth-degree burn.
