Degrees of Burn Severity

• 1st Degree Burn (superficial burns) - Reddened skin without blisters (usually doesn't need to be seen)
• 2nd Degree Burn (partial thickness burns) - Reddened skin with blisters (heals from bottom up, takes 2 to 3 weeks)
  • Small closed blisters (narrower than 1 inch) serve as a dressing and reduce pain. Also the blister fluid contains protective chemicals.
  • Large closed blisters (wider than 1 inch) may need debridement. They commonly break open and the dead skin then needs to be removed.
  • All open blisters need trimming of the dead skin (can be done by you or in the doctor's office). Most open blisters are empty of fluid. A blister with a small opening and slow fluid leak can be recognized by the appearance of wrinkled skin.
• 3rd Degree Burn (full thickness burns) - Deep burn with white or charred skin. The burned area loses sensation to pain and touch (feels numb). Usually needs a skin graft to prevent bad scarring if it is larger than a quarter (1 inch or 2.5 cm) in size.