Burns

The body's largest organ.

Burns can be caused by heat, chemicals, sunlight, electricity or radiation and cause tissue damage to the skin (the largest organ of the human body). They are categorized three ways:

• First-degree Burns: Most often caused by exposure to near heat or sunlight, first-degree burns affect the top layer of the skin (epidermis), turning it red and causing pain. These burns are not typically considered serious and can be treated at home with topical medications.
• Second-degree Burns: These burns penetrate past the skin’s top layer, into the dermis and can cause blistering and swelling in addition to redness and pain. Care should be taken to ensure that secondary infections do not occur and it is recommended that second-degree burns are treated by a medical professional.
• Third-degree Burns: Affecting all three layers of the skin – epidermis, dermis and fat, third-degree burns are considered serious when they cover 1% or more of the body. These burns can destroy hair follicles and sweat glands and damage nerve endings. Severe third-degree burns are considered life-threatening as they hinder the ability of the skin to function as the body’s temperature regulator, resulting in hypothermia and dehydration, and can cause severe infections, dehydration, edema, pneumonia and shock due to seriously low blood pressure. Appropriate medical treatment is crucial and may include hospitalization, skin grafting and limb amputation. These types of burns can cause extensive scarring and lifelong disability.

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