Burn injuries are very painful and may leave permanent physical and psychological scars. According to the Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation, 2.4 million burns were reported annually in the United States in the early 1990s. Of these burns, over 1 million people were associated with serious physical damage.
Every year there are thousands of burns and deaths. In fact, burn injuries are the second leading cause of secondary death behind car accidents.
There are four categories of burns:
- Primary burn
- Shallow second burn
- Deep second burn
- 3 degree burns
Primary burns usually affect the outer layer of the skin called the epidermis. One degree of burns tend to be moist and red. Burns of this nature are generally resolved within a week. A typical example of a single burn would be a mild sunburn.
Two shallow burns
A shallow second burn penetrates the entire skin layer of the skin and extends to the next skin layer known as the dermis. Pressure against secondary burns tends to produce red spots. Burns may look like damp pink. A wonderful second-time burn is also healed spontaneously and heal often within two weeks.
Two deep burns
Because the destruction of tissues extends to the deep part of the dermis, deep 2 degree burns are different from the top type. Burns of this nature will dry and become whitish in color. It does not produce a red brown with application of pressure. This type of burn takes 3 to 4 weeks to heal. There is a danger of a deep second degree burn leaving a thick or hypertrophic scar.
Third Degree Burns
The most serious classification is a third degree burn. This occurs when burns destroy both the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin and extend to subcutaneous tissue. These burns are physically depressed, burned, and often appear as leather.
Ironically, a third degree burn may not be as physically painful as a more serious type, due to the amount of destroyed nerve endings. These burns are very serious and often require skin grafting or other reconstruction procedures.
Burns are also categorized into two categories: partial thickness and total thickness. Partial thickness burns include first and second degrees burns, and whole body burns are usually three degrees burns.
These explanations explain only the characteristics of common burns. However, you should not try to diagnose the severity of your own burn. Instead, get medical attention immediately. This is because there are important things to minimize pain and promote prompt recovery. In case of severe burn, you can save lives by taking immediate medical treatment
Burn injuries are expensive to treat. Long term hospitalization for 3 degree burn may easily exceed $ 100,000. Many burns are due to negligence (negligence of others). If you or a loved one suffers a burn, consult an experienced Michigan State injury attorney today.
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