Burns are categorized based on their degree of severity, which will be assessed by your provider during your evaluation. The four main types of burns are:

● First-degree. These are a mild type of burn that affects the top layer (epidermis) of the skin. Often times the skin will turn red and will be painful, however, no blistering typically occurs.
● Second-degree. With this type of burn, the skin’s top layer (epidermis) and lower layer (dermis) are affected. The result is pain, redness, blistering, and swelling.
● Third-degree. This type of burn is severe, damaging nerve endings and all three layers of skin (epidermis, dermis, and fat). Burned skin may be black, white, or red and often appears leathery in appearance.
● Fourth-degree. Fourth-degree burns are the most severe, going through all layers of skin, deeper tissue, and even muscle and bones. The nerve endings are completely destroyed at this level, leaving the patient with no feeling in the affected area.

Your healthcare provider will do a full examination to determine the depth, degree, and severity of your burn. They will also estimate the percentage of your body affected by the burn, classifying it as being one of the following:

● Minor. A first or second-degree burn that covers less than 10% of the body.
● Moderate. A second-degree burn that covers approximately 10% of the body.
● Severe. A third-degree burn that covers more than 1% of the body.

Effectively treating a burn and healing the wound depends on the cause, depth, and severity. With all burns, it’s important to regularly clean and apply proper bandages/dressing to the affected area. This gives you the greatest chance of healing while also reducing your chance of getting an infection in the area.

If you have a first or second-degree burn, you can also run cool water over the area and apply aloe or antibiotic cream depending on the severity of the wounds. A third- or fourth-degree burn is more serious and will usually require you to undergo a skin graft to help repair lost tissue.

It’s important to regularly check your wounds for any signs of infection, scarring, and/or tightening of the skin over the joints and muscles. You should always consult with your healthcare professional regarding the best treatment practices for your burn as they’ll be able to provide you with the resources necessary to heal effectively.

There are many external causes that can result in a burn. The most common source of a burn is too much sun (UV) exposure or directly contacting other thermal sources such as fire, scalding liquids, hot surfaces, and steam.

Certain chemicals, such as those found in acids and cleaning solutions, can also result in a burn when they direct contact with the skin. Electrical burns and radiation burns are also fairly common, so it’s important to take the appropriate safety precautions when handling either source.

Many people think that third and fourth-degree burns are the most painful because they are the most severe. However, because of the extensive amount of nerve damage that comes from these types of burns, there is often little to no pain associated with them.

On the other hand, superficial dermal burns, which are the result of first- or second-degree burns, tend to be the most painful because nerve endings are sensitized and exposed to every type of external stimulation. In addition, as the inflammatory healing response takes place, the amount of pain one feels can also begin to increase.

If you’ve been burned and don’t know where to go or what to do, contact our team of experienced medical professionals at Invararx Pharmacy+Clinic. We offer safe and efficient burn care that you can depend on as you navigate the healing process. For more information, contact us or schedule an online appointment at your earliest convenience. We are conveniently located at 31111 U.S. Rte 2, Sultan, WA 98294. We serve patients from Sultan, WA, Monroe WA, Startup WA, Gold Bar WA, Woods Creek WA, and surrounding areas.