Have you ever touched a pot that was too hot or been splashed with scalding hot water? Even if all you got was a blister, that’s still a burn injury.
Burns may be caused by heat, electricity, radiation, or chemicals, and they can vary from mild to life-threatening depending on the burn degree. Do not try to assess whether your burn is severe or not – play it safe and see a doctor.
Every year, about half a million people in the U.S. go to the emergency room because of burns. The kind of treatment you will receive depends on the burn degree and its cause.
What Are the Levels of Burn Degrees?
Burn degrees refer to how deeply a burn penetrated the skin, based on which layers of the skin were affected. The layers of the skin are as follows:
- Epidermis – the outermost layer of skin
- Dermis – the middle layer with nerve endings and blood vessels
- Subcutis – the deepest layer of the skin; a burn that goes through this layer will also extend down into the fatty layer below the skin
First-Degree Burns
A mild burn wound that only affects the epidermis is classified as a first-degree burn. The burn site is painful, and it appears red and dry without blisters. A mild sunburn is an example of a first-degree burn.
Second-Degree Burns
A second-degree burn affects the epidermis and parts of the dermis. The burned skin may either look red or splotchy white and swollen with blisters. A deep second-degree burn may also cause scars.
Third-Degree Burns
In a third-degree burn, the damage of the burn wound is more severe, affecting all layers of the skin. The burned area looks white or charred, and it may feel numb if any nerves have been destroyed.
Burns Over Third-Degree
Particularly severe burns can continue past the skin layers. Burn injuries that reach deep into the fat, muscle, and bone are referred to as fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-degree burns, respectively.
Burn Wound Treatment in Sherman, Texas
A wound care center is the ideal place to go if you have received a burn of any kind. Our specialized healthcare professionals have many years of experience in the medical field, and we will provide you with expert wound care to prevent infection and to hasten your recovery. Recovery time depends on the severity of the burn.
Here at Carrus Health, we have a specialized wound care center with an expert medical team that can treat burn injuries and other nonhealing wounds. These include abscesses, diabetic foot wounds, and skin ulcers or bedsores.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our outstanding doctors, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (903) 870-2600 or by filling out our easy-to-use online contact form now. We are conveniently located in Sherman, Texas, and we serve the entire region of Texoma and beyond. We look forward to helping you on your way to recovery.
