First-Degree BurnsFirst-degree burns, the mildest of the three, are limited to the top layer of skin:
- Signs and symptoms: These burns produce redness, pain, and minor swelling. The skin is dry without blisters.
- Healing time: Healing time is about 3 to 6 days; the superficial skin layer over the burn may peel off in 1 or 2 days.
Second-Degree BurnsSecond-degree burns are more serious and involve the skin layers beneath the top layer:
- Signs and symptoms: These burns produce blisters, severe pain, and redness. The blisters sometimes break open and the area is wet looking with a bright pink to cherry red color.
- Healing time: Healing time varies depending on the severity of the burn. It can take up to 3 weeks or more.
Third-Degree BurnsThird-degree burns are the most serious type of burn and involve all the layers of the skin and underlying tissue:
- Signs and symptoms: The surface appears dry and can look waxy white, leathery, brown, or charred. There may be little or no pain or the area may feel numb at first because of nerve damage.
- Healing time: Healing time depends on the severity of the burn. Deep second- and third-degree burns (called full-thickness burns) will likely need to be treated with skin grafts, in which healthy skin is taken from another part of the body and surgically placed over the burn wound to help the area heal
What to DoSeek Medical Help Immediately When:
- You think your child has a second- or third-degree burn.
- The burned area is large (2-3 inches in diameter), even if it seems like a minor burn. For any burn that appears to cover more than 10% of the body, call for medical assistance. And don't use wet compresses or ice because they can cause the child's body temperature to drop. Instead, cover the area with a clean, soft cloth or towel.
- The burn comes from a fire, an electrical wire or socket, or chemicals.
- The burn is on the face, scalp, hands, joint surfaces, or genitals.
- The burn looks infected (with swelling, pus, increasing redness, or red streaking of the skin near the wound).
For First-Degree Burns:
- Remove the child from the heat source.
- Remove clothing from the burned area immediately.
- Run cool (not cold) water over the burned area (if water isn't available, any cold, drinkable fluid can be used) orhold a clean, cold compress on the burn for approximately 3-5 minutes (do not use ice, as it may cause more destruction to the injured skin).
- Do not apply butter, grease, powder, or any other remedies to the burn, as these increase the risk of infection.
- Apply aloe gel or cream to the affected area. This may be done a few times during the day.
- Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
- If the area affected is small (the size of a quarter or smaller), keep it clean. You can protect it with a sterile gauze pad or bandage for the next 24 hours (but do not use bandages on very young kids, as these can be a choking hazard).
For Second- and Third-Degree Burns:
- Seek emergency medical care, then follow these steps until medical personnel arrive:
- Keep your child lying down with the burned area elevated.
- Follow the instructions for first-degree burns.
- Remove all jewelry and clothing from around the burn (in case there's any swelling after the injury), except for clothing that's stuck to the skin. If you're having difficulty removing clothing, you may need to cut it off or wait until medical assistance arrives.
- Do not break any blisters.
- Apply cool water over the area for at least 3-5 minutes, then cover the area with a clean white cloth or sheet until help arrives.
