burn is a type of injury to flesh or skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction, or radiation.

When damage penetrates into some of the underlying layers, it is a partial-thickness or second-degree burn. In a full-thickness or thirddegree burn, the injury extends to all layers of the skin. A fourth-degree burn additionally involves injury to deeper tissues, such as muscle or bone.

Thermal
hot liquids or gases high temperature tap water in baths or showers, hot cooking oil, or steam Fireworks

Chemicals - sulfuric acid as found in toilet cleaners, sodium hypochlorite as found in bleach, and halogenated hydrocarbons as found in paint remover.

Electrical

Radiation

 Red without blisters Dry Painful

510 days Heals well; Repeated sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer later in life

 Extends into superficial (papillary) dermis Redness with clear blister Blanches with pressure. Moist Very painful less than 23 weeks Local infection/cellulitis but no scarring typically

 Extends into deep (reticular) dermis Yellow or white Less blanching May be blistering Fairly dry Pressure and discomfort 38 weeks Scarring, contractures (may require excision and skin grafting)

Extends through entire dermis Stiff and white/brown No blanching Leathery Painless Prolonged (months) and incomplete Scarring, contractures, amputation (early excision recommended)[6]

 Extends through entire skin, and into underlying fat, muscle and bone Black; charred with eschar Dry Painless Requires excision Amputation, significant functional impairment and, in some cases, death

First Aid

First, stop the burning to prevent a more severe burn. Heat burns (thermal burns): Smother any flames by covering them with a blanket or water. If your clothing catches fire, do not run: stop, drop, and roll on the ground to smother the flames. Cold temperature burns: Try first aid measures to warm the areas. Small areas of your body (ears, face, nose, fingers, toes) that are really cold or frozen can be warmed by blowing warm air on them, tucking them inside your clothing or putting them in warm water. Liquid scald burns (thermal burns): Run cool tap water over the burn for 10 to 20 minutes. Do not use ice. Electrical burns: After the person has been separated from the electrical source, check for breathing and a heartbeat. If the person is not breathing or does not have a heartbeat, call 911. Chemical burns: Natural foods such as chili peppers, which contain a substance irritating to the skin, can cause a burning sensation. Tar or hot plastic burns: Immediately run cold water over the hot tar or hot plastic to cool the tar or plastic.

Cover the burn with a clean, dry cloth to reduce the risk of infection. Do not put any salve or medicine on the burned area, so your doctor can properly assess your burn. Do not put ice or butter on the burned area, because these measures do not help and can damage the skin tissue.

Intravenous fluids - In those with poor tissue perfusion, boluses of isotonic crystalloid solution should be given. Wound care - Early cooling (within 30 minutes of the burn) reduces burn depth and pain, but care must be taken as overcooling can result in hypothermia. Medications - analgesics (such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen) and opioids such as morphine. Benzodiazepines may be used in addition to analgesics to help with anxiety. During the healing process, antihistamines, massage, or transcutaneous nerve stimulation may be used to aid with itching. Surgery - Wounds requiring surgical closure with skin grafts or flaps. *** Circumferential burns of the limbs or chest may need urgent surgical release of the skin, known as an escharotomy. -This is done to treat or prevent problems with distal circulation, or ventilation.