Carolinas HealthCare System  Health Information - Injury  Search
Health Information       There are three levels of burns:    •
Second-degree (partial thickness) burns affect both the outer
and underlying layer of skin. They cause pain, redness,
swelling, and blistering.   • Third-degree (full thickness)
burns extend into deeper tissues. They cause white or blackened,
charred skin that may be numb.  Alternative Names  Second degree
burn; First degree burn; Third degree burn   Before giving first
aid, evaluate how extensively burned the person is and try to
determine the depth of the most serious part of the burn. Then
treat the entire burn accordingly. If in doubt, treat it as a
severe burn.  By giving immediate first aid before professional
medical help arrives, you can help lessen the severity of the
burn. Prompt medical attention to serious burns can help prevent
scarring, disability, and deformity. Burns on the face, hands,
feet, and genitals can be particularly serious.   In case of a
fire, you and the o