Burns – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Burns happen when skin or tissue gets damaged by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. They range from mild to severe.

Everyday burns like sunburns or minor scalds can typically be handled with basic first aid at home. However, deeper burns, burns covering large areas, or those caused by chemicals or electricity require immediate medical attention.

Serious burns might need specialized treatment at burn centers with follow-up care lasting months. The treatment approach depends on both the location and severity of the burn.

Medical professionals classify burns by depth and percentage of body area affected to determine the appropriate treatment plan.

Treatment options might include cleaning the area, applying medication, bandaging, pain management, and in severe cases, skin grafting or reconstructive surgery.

Signs and Symptoms

Burn symptoms change based on how deep the skin damage goes. Sometimes, it takes a day or two for serious burn symptoms to show up.

First-degree burns (superficial burns) only harm the outer skin layer (epidermis). You might notice:

• Pain
• Redness
• Changes in skin color

Second-degree burns (partial-thickness burns) damage both the outer skin layer and the second layer (dermis). Look for:

• Swelling
• Red, white or patchy skin
• Painful blisters
• Possible scarring with deeper burns

Third-degree burns (full-thickness burns) affect all skin layers and sometimes the fat and muscle underneath. These burns may:

• Appear black, brown or white
• Have a leathery look
• Cause little or no pain (because nerves are damaged)

When Medical Help Is Needed

Call 911 right away if you see:

• Deep burns affecting all skin layers
• Dry, leathery skin
• Charred areas or patches of white, brown or black skin
• Burns wider than 3 inches (8 centimeters)
• Burns on hands, feet, face, neck, groin, buttocks or major joints
• Burns that wrap around arms or legs
• Breathing problems from smoke or fumes
• Headache or nausea after fire exposure
• Quick, severe swelling
• Burns from chemicals, gunpowder or explosions
• Electrical burns or lightning strikes

For sunburns, get emergency help when:

• Fever exceeds 103°F (39°C) with vomiting
• Infection appears over sunburned areas
• Confusion or fainting occurs
• Signs of dehydration develop

Take first-aid steps while waiting for emergency services.

Even minor burns might need urgent care if they affect sensitive areas like eyes, mouth, hands or genitals. Babies and older adults may need special attention for smaller burns too.

Contact your healthcare provider if you have:

• Infection signs like oozing, red streaks, or fever
• Burns or blisters wider than 2 inches (5 centimeters)
• Burns that don’t heal within two weeks
• Unexplained new symptoms
• Burns with diabetes

Remember to check if you need a tetanus booster shot if you haven’t had one in the past five years. Try to get this within three days after your injury.

Causes

Burns happen in many ways. They can come from fire, hot liquids, or steam touching the skin. Contact with hot objects like metal or glass can also cause burns.

Other causes include:

• Electrical currents
• Radiation exposure (X-rays)
• UV radiation (sunlight, tanning beds)
• Chemical substances (acids, lye, paint thinner)
• Intentional harm

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase a person’s chance of getting burned:

• Work Environment: Adults who work outdoors or with flames, chemicals, and other burning substances face higher risks.

• Cognitive Decline: Elderly people with dementia may get burned more easily from hot water, drinks, cooking oils, and other heat sources.

• Age: Young children cannot move away from heat dangers. They often get burned from kitchen accidents, car seats, and bath water.

• Substance Use: People who drink alcohol or use drugs that affect judgment are more likely to experience burns.

Complications

Deep or widespread burns can lead to several health issues. These complications range from mild to severe and may include:

• Infections: Burns can become infected with bacteria. Infections like tetanus and pneumonia are possible.
• Body Fluid Problems: Severe burns may cause hypovolemia, which is low blood volume.
• Temperature Control Issues: Burns can lead to hypothermia, where body temperature drops to dangerous levels.
• Respiratory Challenges: Breathing problems may develop after inhaling hot air or smoke during a fire.
• Heart Rhythm Disturbances: Electrical burns can cause irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
• Skin Changes:
  • Hypertrophic scars or keloids (raised, thick scars)
  • Changes in skin color (lighter or darker than surrounding skin)
  • Black individuals have higher risk of scarring and may need specialist care
• Pain and Discomfort:
  • Painful burn scars
  • Itching
  • Nerve damage causing numbness or tingling
• Movement Limitations: Scar tissue can tighten skin, muscles, or tendons (contractures), affecting bone and joint function.
• Mental Health Impacts: Burns may lead to depression and anxiety disorders.
• Cancer Risk: Skin cancer can develop in old burn scars. Any non-healing sore in a burn scar should be checked by a healthcare provider.

Ways to Prevent Burns

Kitchen, Stove, and Water Safety

Keep a close eye on your cooking activities to prevent burns. Never leave food unattended on the stove. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove or use back burners when possible.

Don’t hold children while cooking. Hot foods and liquids should be kept away from children and pets. Always test food temperature before serving to children, and avoid heating baby bottles in microwaves.

Wear tight-fitting clothes when cooking to prevent fabric from catching fire. Block children’s access to heat sources like stoves, grills, and fireplaces.

Set your water heater below 120°F (48.9°C) to prevent scalding. This is especially important for homes with young children or older adults. Always check bathwater temperature before use.

Before placing children in car seats, check if straps or buckles are hot, especially in warm weather.

Electrical Safety

Unplug devices like irons and space heaters when not using them. Store these items out of children’s reach.

Keep all electrical appliances away from water to prevent electrical burns.

Use safety caps on unused electrical outlets, especially in homes with small children. Keep electrical cords and wires out of reach so children can’t chew on them.

Fire Safety Measures

If you smoke, consider quitting. If you continue to smoke, never do so in bed.

Always blow out candles before leaving a room or going to sleep.

Smoke Detector Checklist:

• Install working smoke detectors on each floor
• Check them regularly
• Change batteries at least once yearly

Keep fire extinguishers in accessible locations and learn how to use them properly. Consider having different types for different kinds of fires.

Chemical Burn Prevention

When working with chemicals, always wear:

• Protective eyewear
• Gloves
• Appropriate clothing

Store chemicals, lighters, and matches in locked cabinets or high shelves where children can’t reach them. Use childproof safety latches on storage areas.

Avoid using lighters that look like toys, as children may mistake them for playthings.

Common Household Chemicals	Safe Storage Tips
Cleaning products	Lock in cabinets, keep in original containers
Lawn chemicals	Store in shed/garage, away from food items
Pool chemicals	Keep in a dry area, follow storage instructions
Battery acid	Store batteries in original packaging

Most burns happen at home and can be prevented with proper safety measures. Taking these precautions significantly reduces the risk of burns for everyone in your household, especially children and older adults who may be more vulnerable.