Burns

Definition

Burns commonly occur by direct or indirect contact with heat, electric current, radiation, or chemical agents. Burns can lead to cell death, which can require hospitalization and can be fatal.

Alternative Names

First degree burn; Second degree burn; Third degree burn

Considerations

There are three levels of burns:

  • First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin. They cause pain, redness, and swelling.
  • Second-degree burns affect both the outer and underlying layer of skin. They cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering. They are also called partial thickness burns.
  • Third-degree burns affect the deep layers of skin. They are also called full thickness burns. They cause white or blackened, burned skin. The skin may be numb.

Burns fall into two groups.

Minor burns are:

  • First degree burns anywhere on the body
  • Second degree burns less than 2 to 3 inches (in) or 5.08 to 7.62 centimeters (cm) wide

Major burns include:

  • Third-degree burns
  • Second-degree burns more than 2 to 3 in (5.08 to 7.62 cm) wide
  • Second-degree burns on the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or over a major joint

You can have more than one type of burn at a time.

Major burns need urgent medical care. This can help prevent scarring, disability, and deformity.

Burns on the face, hands, feet, and genitals can be particularly serious.

Children under age 4 and adults over age 60 have a higher chance of complications and death from severe burns because their skin tends to be thinner than in other age groups.

Causes

Causes of burns from most to least common are:

  • Fire/flame
  • Scalding from steam or hot liquids
  • Touching hot objects
  • Electrical burns
  • Chemical burns

Burns can be the result of any of the following:

  • House and industrial fires
  • Car accidents
  • Playing with matches
  • Faulty space heaters, furnaces, or industrial equipment
  • Unsafe use of firecrackers and other fireworks
  • Kitchen accidents, such as a child grabbing a hot iron or touching the stove or oven

You can also burn your airways if you breathe in smoke, steam, superheated air, or chemical fumes in poorly ventilated areas.

Symptoms

Burn symptoms can include:

  • Blisters that are either intact (unbroken) or have ruptured and are leaking fluid.
  • Pain -- How much pain you have is unrelated to the level of burn. The most serious burns can be painless.
  • Peeling skin.
  • Shock -- Watch for pale and clammy skin, weakness, blue lips and fingernails, and a decrease in alertness.
  • Swelling.
  • Red, white, or charred skin.

You may have an airway burn if you have:

  • Burns on the head, face, neck, eyebrows, or nose hairs
  • Burned lips and mouth
  • Coughing
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Dark, black-stained mucus
  • Voice changes
  • Wheezing

First Aid

Before giving first aid, it is important to determine what type of burn the person has. If you are not sure, treat it as a major burn. Serious burns need medical care right away. Call 911 or the local emergency number.

MINOR BURNS

If the skin is unbroken:

  • Run cool water over the area of the burn or soak it in a cool water bath (not ice water). Keep the area under water for at least 5 to 30 minutes. A clean, cold, wet towel will help reduce pain.
  • Calm and reassure the person.
  • After flushing or soaking the burn, cover it with a dry, sterile bandage or clean dressing.
  • Protect the burn from pressure and friction.
  • Over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help relieve pain and swelling. Do not give aspirin to children under 12.
  • Once the skin has cooled, moisturizing lotion containing aloe and an antibiotic also can help.

Minor burns will often heal without further treatment. Make sure the person is up to date on their tetanus immunization.

MAJOR BURNS

If someone is on fire, tell the person to stop, drop, and roll. Then, follow these steps:

  • Wrap the person in thick material; such as a wool or cotton coat, rug, or blanket. This helps put out the flames.
  • Pour water on the person.
  • Call 911 or the local emergency number.
  • Make sure that the person is no longer touching any burning or smoking materials.
  • Do not remove burned clothing that is stuck to the skin.
  • Make sure the person is breathing. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR.
  • Cover the burned area with a dry sterile bandage (if available) or clean cloth. A sheet will do if the burned area is large. Do not apply any ointments. Avoid breaking burn blisters.
  • If fingers or toes have been burned, separate them with dry, sterile, non-stick bandages.
  • Raise the body part that is burned above the level of the heart.
  • Protect the burn area from pressure and friction.
  • If an electrical injury may have caused the burn, do not touch the victim directly. Use a non-metallic object to separate the person away from exposed wires before starting first aid.

You will also need to prevent shock. If the person does not have a head, neck, back, or leg injury, follow these steps:

  • Lay the person flat
  • Raise the feet about 12 in (30 cm)
  • Cover the person with a coat or blanket

Continue to monitor the person's pulse, rate of breathing, and blood pressure until medical help arrives.

Do Not

Things that should not be done for burns include:

  • Do not apply oil, butter, ice, medicines, cream, oil spray, or any household remedy to a severe burn.
  • Do not breathe, blow, or cough on the burn.
  • Do not disturb blistered or dead skin.
  • Do not remove clothing that is stuck to the skin.
  • Do not give the person anything by mouth if there is a severe burn.
  • Do not place a severe burn in cold water. This can cause shock.
  • Do not place a pillow under the person's head if there is an airway burn. This can close the airway.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call 911 or the local emergency number if:

  • The burn is very large, about the size of your palm or larger.
  • The burn is severe (third degree).
  • You aren't sure how serious it is.
  • The burn is caused by chemicals or electricity.
  • The person shows signs of shock.
  • The person breathed in smoke.
  • Physical abuse is the known or suspected cause of the burn.
  • There are other symptoms associated with the burn.

For minor burns, contact your health care provider if you still have pain after 48 hours.

Contact your provider right away if signs of infection develop. These signs include:

  • Drainage or pus from the burned skin
  • Fever
  • Increased pain
  • Red streaks spreading from the burn
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Also contact your provider right away if symptoms of dehydration occur with a burn:

  • Decreased urination
  • Dizziness
  • Dry skin
  • Headache
  • Lightheadedness
  • Nausea (with or without vomiting)
  • Thirst

Children, older people, and anyone with a weakened immune system (for example, from HIV) should be seen right away.

Your provider will perform a history and physical examination. Tests and procedures will be done as needed.

These may include:

  • Airway and breathing support, including a face mask, tube through the mouth into the trachea, or breathing machine (ventilator) for serious burns or those involving the face or airway
  • Blood and urine tests if shock or other complications are present
  • Chest x-ray for face or airway burns
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG), if shock or other complications are present
  • Intravenous fluids (fluids through a vein), if shock or other complications are present
  • Medicines for pain relief and to prevent infection
  • Ointments or creams applied to the burned areas
  • Tetanus immunization, if not up to date

The outcome will depend on the type (degree), extent, and location of the burn. It also depends upon whether internal organs have been affected, and if other trauma has occurred. Burns can leave permanent scars. They can also be more sensitive to temperature and light than normal skin. Sensitive areas, such as the eyes, nose, or ears, may be badly injured and have lost normal function.

With airway burns, the person may have less breathing capacity and permanent lung damage. Severe burns that affect the joints may result in contractures, leaving the joint with decreased movement and a reduction in function.

Prevention

To help prevent burns:

  • Install smoke alarms in your home. Check and change batteries regularly.
  • Teach children about fire safety and the danger of matches and fireworks.
  • Keep children from climbing on top of a stove or grabbing hot items such as irons and oven doors.
  • Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so that children can't grab them and they cannot accidentally be knocked over.
  • Place fire extinguishers in key locations at home, work, and school.
  • Remove electrical cords from floors and keep them out of reach.
  • Know about and practice fire escape routes at home, work, and school.
  • Set the water heater temperature at 120°F (48.8°C) or less.

References

Rybarczyk MM, Kivlehan SM. Thermal injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 54.

Voigt CD, Celis M, Voigt DW. Care of outpatient burns. In: Herndon DN, ed. Total Burn Care. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 6.

Wolf SE. Burns. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 20.

Review Date: 5/28/2024
Reviewed By: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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