Overview
A burn happens when skin or deeper tissue is damaged by heat, hot liquids, steam, flames, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or other radiation. Burns can range from mild redness to deep tissue injury. The seriousness depends on how deep the burn is, how much of the body is affected, where it is located, and what caused it.
Key Symptoms
Symptoms can include pain, redness, swelling, blistering, peeling skin, and skin that looks white, brown, black, or charred. Some burns may cause numbness if nerves are damaged. Burns involving smoke, fire, or enclosed spaces can also cause coughing, trouble breathing, hoarseness, or soot around the mouth or nose.
Causes and Risk Factors
Common causes include scalds from hot drinks or cooking liquids, contact with flames or hot objects, sun exposure, chemicals, and electrical sources. Risk may be higher around open fires, unsafe cooking areas, exposed wiring, industrial chemicals, or poor sun protection. Alcohol use, seizures, reduced mobility, and lack of supervision for young children can also increase risk.
Who Is Affected
Burns can affect anyone. Young children and older adults may be at higher risk of severe injury because their skin is more vulnerable and they may not move away from danger quickly. People who work with fire, heat, electricity, or chemicals also face higher risk.
Prevention
Keep hot liquids and foods away from children, turn pot handles inward, and test bath water before use. Use smoke alarms, keep matches and lighters out of reach, and follow fire and electrical safety rules. Store chemicals securely and use protective equipment when needed. Limit sun exposure, seek shade, and wear protective clothing.
Treatment Categories
First aid starts with stopping the burning process and moving away from the source of injury. Cool the burn with cool running water for about 20 minutes as soon as possible, remove tight items like rings if they are not stuck, and cover the area with a clean, non-stick cloth or dressing. Do not use ice, break blisters, or apply home remedies such as butter, oil, toothpaste, or powders. Medical treatment may include cleaning the wound, dressings, pain control, fluids, monitoring for infection, or specialist burn care depending on severity.
When to Seek Medical Care
Get medical care if a burn is larger than the injured person's palm, causes blisters, seems deep, or is on the face, hands, feet, joints, genitals, or buttocks. Also seek care for chemical burns, electrical burns, signs of infection, worsening pain, fever, or if the person is very young, older, pregnant, or has a serious medical condition. Sunburn may also need medical attention if there is severe blistering, dehydration, confusion, or widespread pain.
When It May Be an Emergency
Call emergency services right away for trouble breathing, burns after being trapped in a fire, burns with smoke inhalation, large or deep burns, or burns caused by electricity or strong chemicals. Emergency care is also needed if clothing is stuck to the skin, the person is unconscious, or there are signs of shock such as fainting, confusion, pale clammy skin, or severe weakness. If a chemical is on the skin or in the eye, follow local poison or emergency guidance while rinsing as directed.