Differences between First-, Second-, and Third-degree Burns
Burn injuries are some of the most painful and dangerous injuries you can endure, and if yours was caused by someone else’s negligence, it makes the matter that much more difficult. When it comes to burn injuries, the losses you experience are likely to be immense, but an experienced Charleston personal injury attorney is standing by to help.
Burn Injury Classifications
The Mayo Clinic relays that burns refer to tissue damage that’s caused by coming into contact with heat, chemicals, radiation, or electricity. These injuries are divided into the following three basic categories:
- First-degree burns
- Second-degree burns
- Third-degree burns
Let’s take a closer look.
First-Degree Burns
A first-degree burn is on the more minor side of things, but it can still lead to immense pain and serious complications. These burns affect the skin’s outer layer – or the epidermis – and they can lead to both redness and serious pain. The burn’s location and its size directly affect how challenging first-degree burns can be.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns are deeper injuries that affect both the skin’s outer layer and its second layer – or its dermis. The results can include all the following:
- Swelling
- Blisters
- Skin that is red, white, or splotchy
- Intense pain
When a second-degree burn is deep, it can lead to permanent scarring, which can be disfiguring when on or near the face and can lead to serious emotional challenges – in addition to your physical and financial losses.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns are more serious still. These burns damage the skin all the way down to the underlying layer of fat, and the affected area can be white, brown, or black in appearance and may have a leathery look. This level of burn can destroy nerves in the affected area, which leads to numbness. Scarring is inevitable and can require multiple operations to manage.
As Burns Heal
It’s important to note that burns are closely associated with dangerous infections, and they are slow to heal. To make things more challenging, the healing process can leave the affected area tight and unyielding. This can interfere with your range of motion and even with your ability to breathe if the burn encircles your torso.
Seek Emergency Care
While every burn injury should be taken seriously, you should seek immediate medical attention if any of the following apply:
- A burn that covers your face, buttocks, groin, feet, hands, or a large area of the body
- A deep burn
- A burn that leaves your skin looking charred, looking leathery, or looking like it has patches of black, brown, or white
- Difficulty breathing
Reach Out to an Experienced Charleston Personal Injury Attorney Today
The seasoned personal injury attorneys at The Law Office of Mark C. Tanenbaum, P.A. – proudly serving Charleston, South Carolina, for decades – recognize just how serious claims involving burn injuries are and will leave no stone unturned in their focused efforts to obtain the compensation you deserve. To learn more about what we can do to help you, please don’t delay reaching out and contacting us online or calling 843-577-5100 today.