Degrees of Burns and How to Soothe Them

When you rely on extreme heat to cook most of your meals, burns are bound to happen. Imagine having to rely on open fires in an emergency situation. How many people have you seen on the show Naked and Afraid get burned? It’s happens often, doesn’t it? So, it’s good to be prepared and understand the level of burns and how to make them feel better.

Although burns are all painful, they vary depending on severity.

So how do you know if the burn needs some serious medical attention? There are four levels of burns. The higher the number, the worse the burn is. The deeper your flesh has been burned, the worse the severity.

First degree burn

This will be similar to a sunburn. The top layer of the affected area of your skin will be reddened and often feel painful.

Second degree burn

The way you can tell this degree from a first is there is blistering. This means the burn has reached the second layer of your skin. Blisters are usually filled with fluid.

Third degree burn

Your first and second layers of skin are charred and completely burnt through. This may not even be that painful since your nerve endings in the area have been destroyed. The only way to repair this kind of damage is with surgery and you will have scars.

Fourth degree burn

This is when the burn has effected the skin, flesh, fat and muscles, often burning through to the bone. This type is prone to infection, specifically it could develop into gangrene and the area may even have to be amputated.

Like we said, the more severe burns required medical attention asap. But if you are suffering from a minor burn (first and second degree,) here are some ways to treat it at home.

• Run the burn under cool (not cold) water for 10 minutes. If this is not easy to do so with the affected area, dampen a clean paper towel with cool water and press it on the burn.
• With first degree burns, apply aloe vera gel or lotion. Moisturizer is a solid option too.
• Don’t try to pop your blisters. This will only make it more prone to infection. However, if they do get opened, apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a non-stick bandage.
• Take Tylenol or Advil for the burn pain if needed.