Health Tip: Classifying Burns

Mar. 23 -- (HealthDay News) - Burns are classified in three ways: as first-, second- or third-degree burns.

These designations are based on severity, and usually dictate what kind of treatment the burn requires.

Here is information about each type of burn, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• First-degree burns are least serious, characterized by red, painful, swollen areas on the skin that turn white when pressure is applied. They typically heal within three to six days.
• Second-degree burns are thicker, more painful burns that may blister. They usually swell significantly, and the skin may appear splotchy. They typically heal within two to three weeks.
• Third-degree burns are the most severe, affecting all layers of the skin, and may look white or charred. They may not be painful, as the nerves may be damaged from a third-degree burn. This type of burn typically requires a very long time to heal.