As part of the initial exam, the doctor will determine the severity and the percentage of burns. The degrees of burns refer to the depth of the affected tissue and range from first degree to third degree, with third degree burns being the deepest.
First Degree Burns / Superficial Burns
- Skin layers: Epidermis only
- Looks like: Red skin without any blisters
- Feels like: Hurts when you touch it, but tolerable
- Healing Time: Will heal without treatment in a few days
- Example: A sunburn is a first-degree burn
Second Degree Burns / Partial Thickness
- Skin layers: Epidermis and dermis
- Looks like: Bright red, moist skin with tense, fluid-filled blisters
- Feels like: Extremely painful
- Healing Time: 10-14 days
Deep Second Degree Burn / Deep Partial Thickness
- Skin layers: Epidermis and dermis
- Looks like: Dry, waxy skin that is either white or dull red and can have blisters
- Feels like: Hurts, but less painful than a partial thickness burn
- Healing time: More than 10 days to heal and may require surgery
Third Degree Burns / Full Thickness
- Skin layers: Epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue
- Looks like: Dry, leathery skin that varies in color
- Feels like: Relatively painless
- Healing time: Dependent on size of burn; almost always requires surgery
Verified Burn Center Experts
Why does it matter that we are a verified burn center? The American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons designed a rigorous review program that ensures verified centers offer the best care for their patients. This includes the whole patient experience from the time of injury through rehabilitation.
It also means we meet the highest quality of care available because we meet these high quality standards. The standards are for personnel qualifications, facilities resources, organizational structure, and medical care services.
