Both Burns and scalds are commonly cause by heat - burns by dry heat such as fire, and scalds by moist heat such as steam. Chemicals can also cause burns by the release of heat when contact is made with tissue. Other causes of burns may be friction, electricity, radiation and intense cold. Remember that someone suffering severe burns is like to also be suffering shock.
Burns are classified into 3 parts:
- Superficial - Involving only the external part of the outermost layer of skin (redness, swelling and tenderness)
- Partial Thickness - Involving the entire outer layer of skin (red raw skin, blistered skin, great pain)
- Full Thickness : Burn 0 affecting all layer of the skin (pale and waxy skin, less pain as there may be damage to nerve endings. For this urgent medical attention must be sought.
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