Burns Summary A burn is damage to your body’s tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight or radiation. Scalds from hot liquids and steam, building fires and flammable liquids and gases are the most common causes of burns. Another kind is an inhalation injury, caused by breathing smoke. There are three types of burns: First-degree burns damage only the outer layer of skin Second-degree burns damage the outer layer and the layer underneath Third-degree burns damage or destroy the deepest layer of skin and tissues underneath Burns can cause swelling, blistering, scarring and, in serious cases, shock and even death. They also can lead to infections because they damage your skin’s protective barrier. Treatment for burns depends on the cause of the burn, how deep it is, and how much of the body it covers. Antibiotic creams can prevent or treat infections. For more serious burns, treatment may be needed to clean the wound, replace the skin, and make sure the patient has enough fluids and nutrition. NIH: National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of General Medical Sciences Treatments and Therapies Aloe Vera National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Blisters: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research First Aid: Burns American Academy of Family Physicians Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Find an Expert American College of Emergency Physicians American College of Emergency Physicians Burn Center Verification American Burn Association Prevention and Risk Factors Burn and Scald Prevention United States Fire Administration Preventing Burns in Your Home American Academy of Family Physicians Statistics and Research Burn Incidence and Treatment in the U.S. American Burn Association Burns and Fire Safety Safe Kids Worldwide Videos and Tutorials Burn Prevention for Families with Children with Special Needs Safe Kids Worldwide Children Burn Safety Awareness on Playgrounds: Thermal Burns from Playground Equipment Consumer Product Safety Commission Burns (For Parents) Nemours Foundation First Aid: Burns Nemours Foundation Protect the Ones You Love: Burns Safety Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Treating and Preventing Burns American Academy of Pediatrics Start Here Burning Issue: Handling Household Burns National Institutes of Health Burns American College of Emergency Physicians Burns National Institute of General Medical Sciences Skin Burns (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Array Burns Chemical burn or reaction Minor burns – aftercare Skin graft Skin graft – slideshow Specifics Chemical Burns: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Electrical Burns: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Fireworks Safety National Fire Protection Association Risk of Burns from Eruptions of Hot Water Overheated in Microwave Ovens Food and Drug Administration Scald Burns Burn Institute Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Burns National Institutes of Health Reference Desk Glossary of Terms Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors Related Issues How to Help a Person with a Serious Burn Injury Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors Encyclopedia Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Minor burn – first aid – slideshow Journal Articles Burns Latest News Scientists Grow and Transplant Functioning Skin Onto Mice HealthDay
