Burns: types of burns and degrees, treatment of burns with keeper balm. Types of burns and their classification according to etiology, degrees and affected areas. A characteristic sign of a thermal burn of the 2nd degree.

Content

A burn is thermal damage to tissue due to exposure to external factors. Depending on the intensity of the injury, there are 4 degrees of injury. Each degree requires different measures medical care.

Damaging factors

According to medical classification burns are classified depending on the damaging factors:

Thermal damage. In case of fires, a person's face and upper respiratory tract are mainly affected. If other parts of the body are affected, the consequences are compounded by the need to remove burnt clothing and the associated risk of infection. Damage from boiling water has a small area, but differs in depth. Hot steam causes mostly shallow tissue damage. When an unprotected surface of the body comes into contact with hot objects, serious burns with clear boundaries remain.
Chemical exposure. The strength of the attack depends on the concentration of the substance. In most cases, acids cause shallow lesions. When the skin comes into contact with acid, a burn crust appears in a short time, preventing further damage. Salts of heavy metals often cause superficial injuries. The most dangerous and deepest lesions are caused by caustic alkalis.
Electrical impact. It is characterized by the depth of the lesion, but a small area in the form of an entry and exit point. Electrical injuries are classified into three types: supervoltage, high-voltage, low-voltage.
Radiation exposure. Infrared rays damage the skin and eyes (especially the cornea and retina). The extent depends on the duration and intensity of exposure. Ionizing radiation affects the epidermis and shallow organs. Ultraviolet damage to the skin is large in area and shallow in depth, and is mainly common in the summer.

What does the degree of burn mean?

The basis of the classification burn degrees a residual level of the epidermis' ability to regenerate naturally without medical support is assumed. This principle allows us to standardize the scheme and scope of emergency medical measures.

The ability of the skin to recover is determined by the level of preservation of the microcircular bed and the germ part. When they are damaged, self-healing takes a long time, resulting in the appearance of a pronounced cosmetic defect. Urgent surgical measures are required.

Clinical manifestations of burns depending on the degree

Each degree of burn damage manifests itself with its own symptoms. Their description:

	Characteristics of the lesion
	Redness, slight swelling of the skin. Recovery occurs within 4-5 days.
	The appearance of blisters on the reddened skin (they do not form immediately), filled with a transparent yellowish liquid. When the blisters rupture, the red, painful surface of the germ layer of the skin is exposed. If an infection is associated with the burn, healing occurs in 10-15 days without scar formation.
	Death of the skin, formation of a gray or black scab.
Fourth	Necrosis, necrosis, charring of skin, muscles, tendons and sometimes even bones. The tissues melt and are torn away after a few weeks. Healing is slow, rough scars form at the site of the lesions, and scar contractures occur in the joint area.

1st degree burn

In the first degree, the upper layer of keratinized epithelium is affected. The causes are sun rays, hot liquids, weak acids, alkalis. The burn is manifested by redness of the skin, swelling, pain, and heals after 2-4 days without leaving any traces. It is not accompanied by pronounced structural changes in the skin or microcirculatory disorders.

Touching the affected skin areas increases the burning sensation. Therapeutic measures minimal.

2nd degree burn

In the second degree, the keratinized epithelium is affected down to the germinal layer, and blisters with serous contents form. In this case, the deeper layers of the skin are affected, and microcirculation in the damaged area and adjacent areas is slightly disrupted. Such burns are more common than others. They are characterized by favorable flow even over large areas.

The lesion heals due to the regeneration of the germ layer in 1-2 weeks. With a second-degree burn, the papillary layer and capillaries are not damaged, but their function is temporarily impaired while pain persists. Patients suffer from burning and swelling. If the affected area is large, there is a risk of infection and dehydration.

The third degree is divided into types A and B (differing in the severity of symptoms). It affects all layers of the epidermis and dermis. The main difference between the third degree and the second is the absence of pain when touching the surface. This indicates damage to the nerves and subcutaneous tissue. Complete independent recovery does not occur; microcirculatory disorders are maximally expressed.

Due to the large volume of damage, decay products of dead tissue are actively absorbed into the blood, causing severe intoxication. There is a high possibility of skin infection and the development of sepsis. Recovery lasts several months and often requires surgery. Rough scars remain afterwards.

Degree 3A

Degree 3A can cause thermal, chemical burns. In this case, the dermis is partially affected, the bottom of the wound is the intact part of the dermis with sebaceous, sweat glands, hair follicles. Immediately after the burn, the area turns black or brown and looks like a scab. Sometimes large blisters with serous-hemorrhagic contents, prone to fusion, are formed.

Pain sensitivity is reduced, but due to its preservation, independent restoration of the skin is possible. If infection does not occur and the wound does not deepen again, the affected areas will heal due to granulation and marginal epithelialization.

Degree 3B

A thermal burn of degree 3B leads to total death of the skin, including the layer of subcutaneous fat and adnexal structures. This makes it impossible to recover on its own. The stage is characterized by the formation of thick-walled bloody blisters or dense scabs of dead skin.

The surrounding skin turns red, swells, and the person exhibits symptoms of intoxication and dehydration. Symptoms include rapid breathing, tachycardia, increased body temperature, and a drop in blood pressure. With such burns, the patient is immediately taken to the hospital for surgical and medicinal treatment.

4th degree burn

A 4th degree burn is characterized by the death of underlying tissues, charring of muscles, bones and subcutaneous fat. This is the most severe defeat of all, regardless of the area of damage. If the burn spreads within one segment, it can lead to the death of the patient or loss of a limb.

The causes may be flames, hot objects, acids, alkalis, or electrical injuries. The damage is deep, affecting blood vessels, nerves, and sometimes bones. The changes spread circulatory around the affected areas, which leads to the formation of a dense crust of necrotic tissue. The preserved elements are compressed, and the blood supply is disrupted.

A dense, thick-walled brown or black scab forms in place of the tissue; patients may fall into shock or coma. With large lesions, burn disease develops within a few hours. Recovery of small lesions takes several months, large lesions take years.

How to help a victim with 1st and 2nd degree burns

The first and second degrees are considered superficial, so they can be treated without emergency medical care. The exception is cases of damage large areas or serious condition of a person. Algorithm for help or self-help:

Cool the skin - place the burned area in cool water for 10-15 minutes. Ice should not be used.
Treat the lesion with special means - aerosols based on dexpanthenol.
In the absence of special means, the affected area can be lubricated with raw protein, aloe juice, or make a compress from raw potatoes or pumpkin.
The application of oils, fatty creams, and sour cream is prohibited.
In case of chemical burns, you need to wash off or neutralize the active substance (acid - with a soda solution, alkali - with a solution acetic acid), at electrical shock– interrupt contact with the power source.
For severe pain, you can take a painkiller tablet - Ketoprofen, Ketorolac, Perfalgan. For extensive lesions, Promedol and Omnopon are prescribed.
At the second stage, the doctor peels off the epidermis, drains or removes blisters, and covers the surface with a hygroscopic aseptic dressing to prevent wound infection.

What to do for 3rd and 4th degree burns

The third and fourth degrees are very dangerous, therefore, with burns of this stage, a person is immediately sent to the hospital. Help algorithm:

Treat the skin around the scab with hydrogen peroxide, Furacilin solution, Chlorhexidine, and apply a sterile bandage to the wound.
Daily treatment of the crust with ointments and antiseptic solutions.
Surgical intervention - necrotomy (for deep circular burns on the body), necrectomy (excision, amputation of the scab, indicated for cleansing the wound), dermatoplasty (for compensation cosmetic defects).
Infusion therapy - to replenish the loss of fluid and protein. With it, colloidal and crystalloid solutions are administered parenterally. Antishock treatment includes the administration of glucose, rheological solutions, and cardiovascular drugs.
Wound healing - drying the scab, applying protein coagulants. The use of infrared emitters and fans to prevent germs from entering the wound. Antibiotics are used - the bandages are soaked in them.
Decompression – can be performed during the shock stage. Reduces the severity of the patient's condition, prevents the development of edema, which leads to ischemia of nerves and muscles.
Cell therapy – part complex treatment, in which allofibroblasts or keratinocytes are introduced onto the affected surface. They accelerate homeostasis and heal damage.

Video

Under the influence of high temperatures, chemicals, electricity, radiation, a burn forms on the skin or mucous membranes. To select treatment tactics for these injuries, the lesion is divided according to the degree of burns. The gradation is carried out in accordance with the appearance, area and depth of the injury.

Classification

Since 1960, there has been a generally accepted classification of any burns, which takes into account the severity of the condition of the burned person. IN international classification thermal and chemical injuries according to ICD 10 code are numbered from T20 to T32.

By degree

There are four degrees of burn injuries in total. They range from the most light form to the heaviest. Depending on this, treatment tactics are determined.

First

The first, or initial, degree develops with short-term exposure to temperature or other factors. Redness of the skin occurs in its upper layer. A doctor will diagnose a 1st degree burn if there is slight swelling and mild pain.

This condition goes away in 3-4 days. The skin wrinkles and dries a little, then darkens slightly. There are no scar changes after recovery, and the color is gradually restored.

Second

In the second degree, with a longer or more intense action of the damaging factor, a disturbance occurs in the entire surface layer of the epidermis. Against the background of hyperemia, bubbles of various sizes with transparent contents form.

When a 2nd degree burn develops, a person experiences severe pain. After the bubbles open, erosion occurs in their place. It has a shiny, bright red surface and can become infected. Recovery is noted on days 10-14, scars are extremely rare.

Third

It is accompanied by a serious condition and requires hospitalization. In grade III A, changes affect all layers of the epidermis and sometimes the dermis. A hard or soft light brown scab forms on the skin. Due to extensive detachment of the epidermis, large blisters form, which can merge with each other. After opening, a wound with white, gray and pink spots is formed.

In III B, there is a deeper lesion involving the epidermis, dermis, and sometimes the hypodermis and subcutaneous tissue. This grade is characterized by the appearance of a dark brown, hard scab.. In the area of the violation, sensitivity is reduced, independent healing is impossible.

Epithelization in grade III A occurs at 6-8 weeks. Severe inflammation can extend this period to several months. Chemical burns are characterized by long and difficult healing.

Fourth

The most severe 4th degree is stated when all layers of the skin, subcutaneous fat, muscle tissue and bones. Often leads to the death of the patient.

Superficial types of burns are restored without scars. These include 1, 2 and 3 A degrees. Deep (3 B and 4) lesions will not heal on their own and therefore require skin grafting.

Table of burn degrees and their characteristics

Degree	Affected area	Local signs
I	Epidermis	Moderate pain, hyperemia, swelling
II	Epithelium up to the germinal zone	Severe pain, redness, swelling, blisters with serous fluid
III A	Damage to the epithelium and superficial dermis	Blisters with blood content, the wound at autopsy is bright red, hemorrhages, swelling, redness
III B	Necrotic changes in all layers of the dermis, including sweat and sebaceous glands	The appearance of a dark-colored and dense scab, extensive adjacent swelling, loss of sensitivity
IV	Necrosis of all types of tissue, including tissue, fascia, muscle and bone	Scab brown or black, firm to the touch, charred

By area

When examining a burned person, you can often see multiple abnormalities characteristic of various degrees of damage. But the assessment of severity also depends on the area of change.

Based on this, burns are divided into the following groups:

extensive (15% or more);
not extensive.

Against the background of severe disorders, burn disease often develops. It is a complex of symptoms associated with tissue destruction and the release of toxic and bioactive substances into the blood.

Burn shock

The first stage of the disease is characterized by the development of shock. It is also divided according to severity:

Etiology and pathogenesis

Treatment methods also depend on the type of burn. Depending on the etiology, they are:

thermal;
chemical;
electrical;
radial.

The pathogenesis of the appearance of disorders lies in the inflammatory reaction in response to exposure. First, the vessels begin to sharply spasm, and then expand. Their permeability increases, and inflammatory activators (histamine, serotonin, prostaglandins) are released. They cause redness and swelling.

How to determine severity

In medicine, there are several ways to determine the area of damage. Typically used:

Palm rule

Used to determine the area of minor damage. The palm of the victim is conventionally taken as 1% and the desired value is calculated according to this.

Rule of nines

This diagnostic method is based on dividing the entire surface of the adult body into parts of 9%:

neck with head;
each upper limb separately;
breast;
stomach;
upper back;
lumbar region;
lower leg and foot separately;
thigh of one of the lower limbs.

Method of B. N. Postnikov

Postnikov proposed a more accurate measurement by applying sterile gauze to the body. Traces are kept on it in the affected area, then it is applied to graph paper. This allows for an accurate calculation.

Method of G. D. Vilyavin

Surgeon Vilyavin proposed measuring the area of an extensive burn in each patient by painting the affected areas on a specially designed diagram depicting the human body. The color of the paint is selected depending on the degree of the burn; this approach also allows one to evaluate the dynamics of changes during therapy.

How to provide first aid and treat an injury

The principles of assistance depend on the area and depth of tissue necrosis. The types of burns also matter, so the doctor studies the medical history before starting therapy.

Principles of First Aid

First degree burns can be treated at home. Deeper damage requires a qualified approach; only in this case will it be possible to prevent serious consequences. Before contacting a doctor or before an ambulance arrives, you should take immediate action.

Correctly provided first aid helps prevent the victim’s condition from worsening and facilitates the doctor’s work in the future.

To do this, do the following:

It is necessary to eliminate the cause of the burn. For this purpose, you need to take the person out of the fire and throw a blanket over him when his clothes are burning. Stop contact with boiling water, steam, chemical liquid or a hot object.
Cool the damaged area. First aid for grades 1 and 2, it involves washing the skin in the area of the disorder with cool running water. When exposed to acid, you need to use a weak solution of soda for rinsing, and in case of a burn with alkali, dilute citric acid.
Apply a sterile bandage. However, it is not recommended to clean the wound from adhering clothing or resin. Do not open any bubbles that form. Do not treat the wound with brilliant green, iodine, manganese solution or fat-containing ointment.
In case of severe pain, it is necessary to give an analgesic or NSAID (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol), and, if possible, give an injection of an anesthetic.
After first aid, call doctors according to indications.

The doctor makes a decision on the patient’s treatment tactics, taking into account the degree of tissue necrosis and its area.

When can you treat at home?

Only mild burns should be treated at home. First aid is usually sufficient. With grades 3 and 4, as well as a large area of damage, it is dangerous to be present without the care of qualified specialists.

You should call a doctor immediately in this case:

Most burns occur at home or at work. Their prevention consists of following safety measures and paying extra attention when using boiling water and hot objects.

Burn injuries are classified based on severity, each with its own characteristics and symptoms. Experts say that today there is no generally accepted categorization of these types of damage. On the territory of each country, gradation pathological condition selected based on certain standards. In this article, the degrees of burns and their characteristics will be discussed.

A burn is damage to human body tissue due to external influences.

For a burn injury of the first degree of severity, all treatment measures are applied at home. These skin lesions do not require labor-intensive procedures. Basically, when treating this form of burns, topical ointments are used to treat the damaged tissue. In addition, in order to prevent the development of inflammatory processes, it is recommended to use lotions based on medicinal herbs.

The second degree of burn severity is characterized by the appearance of small blisters containing clear liquid inside. This form of skin damage requires a particularly careful approach to therapy. Lack of a competent approach can lead to infection and other complications.

With the third and fourth severity of the pathology, dense blisters form on the patient’s skin. IN in this case, pathology therapy is carried out surgical methods. When treating the affected tissue, the blisters are opened and cleared of their contents. During the operation, specialists remove dead tissue and treat with antiseptic solutions. If there is extensive damage to the skin surface, the patient may require a transplant of this organ.

Classification of burn herbs in Russia

In the territory Russian Federation We use our own classification of burn injuries. The severity of the pathology is determined by the nature of the damage to the skin surface, as well as the blood flow system. In case of defeat circulatory system, regeneration processes are completely inhibited. In such a case, even a surgical operation does not guarantee the absence of burn marks.

The most common cases of injury are burns of the upper and lower extremities

Let's find out what degrees of burns there are and how they are expressed. Let's describe all the steps in more detail:

First degree- shallow lesion skin accompanied by erythema, swelling and attacks of aching pain.
Second degree– small blisters form on reddened areas of the skin containing transparent or yellow liquid. In case of damage to individual elements vascular system, this liquid can be colored burgundy. Since this type of injury does not affect the germ layer, regenerative processes in cells completely restore damaged tissue.
Third degree– with this severity of injury, the lesion affects the germinal layer of the epidermis. Tissue destruction leads to the formation of necrosis.
Fourth degree- one of the most complex species burns. These injuries destroy tissue, muscle and even bone. In addition, this type of burn injury most often affects large areas of the human body.

A similar classification is used not only in Russia, but also in many other countries. It is this gradation that is considered the most convenient for selecting treatment methods.

Many people are interested in how to determine the degree of burn at home. Determine the nature, severity, and possible consequences injury, it is possible only after twenty-four hours. It is during this time that a kind of border appears, separating the dead areas from healthy tissue. Despite this nuance, first aid measures should be taken in the very first minutes after exposure of the skin to various aggressive factors.

First degree burn injuries to the skin

This category of injuries affects only the upper layer of the epidermis. The correct approach to therapy reduces the risk of scar formation and complications recovery process to a minimum. Factors leading to such damage include contact with hot metal, faulty wiring, and short-term exposure to ultraviolet rays on exposed skin.

The main danger of this type of pathology is the risk of poisoning from toxins resulting from tissue destruction and dehydration. The main symptoms characteristic of such injuries are itching, erythema and peeling.

Regeneration processes in damaged tissues take several days. During the last stage of tissue repair, small scales and hyperpigmentation form on the affected area of the body.

If the depth of tissue damage is great and the burn is very extensive, then this can pose a great danger to the life of the victim

Second degree burn injuries to the skin

These types of damage to the integrity of the skin lead to the formation of small blisters filled with serous secretions on the affected areas of the body. Blisters begin to form around the second day after injury, making it much more difficult to early diagnosis nature of the pathology. Among the various factors leading to such injuries, the following should be highlighted:

exposure to chemical components on the skin;
exposure to high electrical voltage;
prolonged stay in rooms with temperatures exceeding seventy degrees Celsius;
interaction with open fire or steam.

The second degree of thermal burn is much more difficult to treat compared to the others. The duration of tissue restoration for this type of burn is about three weeks.

Third degree burn injuries to the skin

This type of burn is divided into two categories “3A” and “3B”. There are several ways of developing pathology. Among them, wet and coagulation forms of necrosis should be highlighted, as well as fixation of changes under the influence of dry type heat.

Coagulation necrosis develops upon contact with an open flame or heated objects, as well as with prolonged exposure to steam. The victim's skin changes color, becoming red and dark. The lesion itself is painted black, and the tissues bordering the damaged area are painted red. Inflammatory processes, creating a boundary between damaged and healthy tissues, are formed towards the end of the first month.

In the third category of injury severity, only those burns whose diameter does not exceed two centimeters heal on their own. When carrying out first aid measures, it is very important to stop the process of damage to deep tissues, thereby preventing toxin poisoning and dehydration. Removal of serous contents and normalization of blood circulation is carried out only surgically.

During independent regeneration processes, the boundaries of the damaged layers grow inside the wound, which contributes to the formation of scars.

Depending on how deep the tissue is affected, four degrees of burns are distinguished

The wet form of necrosis occurs when clothing burns. The affected tissues initially swell, turning a soft pink color. The surface of the skin resembles torn shreds. This situation is often complicated by the addition of an infection.

“Fixation” of the skin is formed under the influence of infrared radiation. During the first three days, local body temperature and color change, swelling and redness appear. A dry scab forms approximately on the fourth day after injury. Further clinical picture resembles coagulation-type necrosis.

Often, burn injuries lead to partial loss of skin sensitivity at the affected area. In the case where the muscle-binding tissues are affected, the mobility of the damaged limb is limited. The formation of rough scars and cicatrices disrupts the elasticity of tissues. When an injury affects a large area of skin, poisoning from toxins produced during combustion occurs. Such injuries can lead to fatal outcome, due to severe irritation of receptors by toxic products.

How long does it take for a third degree burn to heal? In most cases, the formation of new tissue is influenced by factors such as first aid, correctness of therapy, nature and area of injury.

Fourth degree

With a fourth degree injury, the damage extends to the entire depth of the affected area. In many cases, tissue breakdown products poison internal organs, that leads to state of shock. Therapy of this type of pathology is considered the most labor-intensive, since the lesion occurs on more than sixty percent of the skin area. Severe dehydration and intoxication also complicate therapy. The treatment of this form of burn injuries itself is carried out in an intensive care unit.

Often, in order to save a patient’s life, specialists have to resort to complex surgical operations, including transplantation of donor organs. Since the burn affects large areas of skin, in many cases patients require skin grafts. Necrosis is accompanied by the appearance of purulent exudate, which increases the risk associated with the occurrence of sepsis.

Having considered how many degrees of burns there are, we need to say the following. Many burn injuries of the third and fourth degree of severity cause internal changes, incompatible with life. Only prevention of dehydration, intoxication and other pathological processes, will save the life of the victim. Unfortunately, the current level of the pharmaceutical industry does not allow the creation of fast-acting medications that affect the body at the molecular level. That is why the main method of treating burns is surgery.

Below are photos of the extent of the burns.

Each degree has its own characteristics that determine the depth of damage to the skin and underlying tissues

Features of the course of necrosis

Deep tissue damage leads to the entry of toxic components into the blood. Against this background, various dysfunctions of internal organs occur. When scabs form on the surface of the skin with a thickness of more than ten millimeters, it is possible to track how much tissue, tendons and muscles are affected. In such a situation, surgical excision can prevent poisoning by toxins. In rare cases, amputation of the affected limb may be necessary to avoid death.

Important! When excision of large areas, the likelihood of infection increases several times.

Nuances of anti-burn therapy

Classification of burns by degree and characteristic symptoms for each form of pathology were considered. Let's talk about the features of treatment aimed at eliminating burns. Clinical practice shows that these types of injuries are not stable formations. Most often, burns tend to deepen, which leads to damage to the vascular system and the formation of edema. Such changes in tissue lead to the death of the germ layers of the skin and hair follicles.

Statistics show that in thirty percent of cases, burns of the third severity category can heal on their own (provided that less than fifty percent of the skin area is affected). It will take about ninety days for all traces of injury to disappear.

Burn injuries classified as first and second severity heal without noticeable cosmetic defects. During recovery period There is slight peeling and hyperemia. In this case it is used symptomatic therapy aimed at improving the patient’s well-being. A special role in therapy is played by first aid measures that were provided to the patient when injured.

Quite often, tissue deformation is observed with improper use of external treatment agents, and, in particular, with the use of occlusive dressings. The main task of doctors when treating burns is to prevent the affected area from enlarging. Anti-shock therapy in combination with actions aimed at restoring microcirculation allows accelerating regeneration processes.

In contact with

The classification of burn injuries by degree of burn was introduced into medical terminology to make it easier for doctors to determine the severity of this type of injury and prescribe the correct treatment. In fact, the severity of the burn indicates the severity of the burn injury.

A burn is damage to an area of human body tissue that has been directly affected by high temperature. In the minds of the average person, a burn can only be caused by fire, but in fact there are many types of burns, each of which has its own characteristic features of the lesion and methods of their treatment. The causes of burns can be:

thermal;
electrical;
chemical;
radial.

Thermal burns are the most common type of such injuries. This type includes injuries resulting from careless handling of open fire, boiling water or hot steam, as well as from exposure to hot objects on the human body.

Injuries caused by electric shock are classified as electrical burns. With such injuries, in addition to external visible damage, electric field Internal organs are also affected. Burns resulting from careless handling of chemicals: acids, alkalis, electrolytes, etc. qualify as chemical burns. Ultraviolet burns and injuries caused by radiation, sun rays, and quartz radiation are a type of radiation.

But the number of burn injuries is not limited to this list. For example, you can get a similar injury from the improper use of warming ointments or mustard plaster, you can get a burn from garlic, the use of bodyaga or celandine juice - such injuries, although not life-threatening, do not become less painful.

It would be wrong to think that only skin burns pose a danger. No less dangerous in its consequences can be a burn of the lungs or retina. In addition, it is much more difficult to treat such injuries, since there is not yet a technique for replacing damaged areas on these organs, as is practiced for skin burns.

Read also:
Classification of burns by severity
All types of burns, regardless of the cause of their occurrence, are divided into 4 degrees. This classification is so convenient and practical that even a non-specialist can accurately determine the type of injury received; to do this, it is enough just to know the basic characteristics of each degree of burns.
The severity of the injury depends on many factors:
the magnitude of the temperature affecting the body;
the duration of its effect on the body;
the nature of the injuries received (which part of the body or organ was burned);
area and depth of damage.

To make it easier to apply classification to burns received, doctors all over the world adhere to a uniform ratio of damage to individual organs to the entire body. For example, a burned hand is 9% of the entire body, the head is also 9%, the leg, chest or back are 18% each. To approximately determine the damaged area, use the following rule: The area of a person's palm is approximately equal to 1% of the total area of their body.
According to statistics, people most often receive burns on their hands or feet, as well as their face and eyes. Injuries to the head and torso are much less common, but such lesions can be much more life-threatening, since the wound in such cases is large not only in area, but also in the depth of tissue damage.
Characteristics of burns
A 1st degree burn is characterized by redness of the skin and slight swelling of the tissue. This is the mildest superficial type of injury. Most often, such a wound heals within 4-5 days even without the use of special medicines. Therefore, in the vast majority of such cases, victims do not even consider it necessary to see a doctor.
However, in some cases, even such minor, at first glance, symptoms of burns require hospitalization of the victim. This is necessary when the skin of the eyelids or eyes is injured, or more than 10% of the body is damaged, or more than 1% of the body if it is a burn of the palm or foot. Hospitalization of the victim is also advisable in the case where such a burn is located on the face, unless, of course, the victim is not indifferent to his appearance after recovery.
A 2nd degree burn also applies to minor injuries. This damage affects the top two layers of skin – the epidermis and dermis. The main signs of this type of burn are severe redness and swelling of the skin, and the appearance of blisters filled with clear liquid. People who receive it require hospitalization only in the same cases as for 1st degree injuries.
However, when treating such injuries, you need to know that you cannot break the blisters on your own and remove the liquid from them; it is better to endure until the integrity of the membrane is damaged naturally, or seek help from a doctor.
A 3rd degree burn is already a serious injury that requires immediate medical assistance to the victim, regardless of its location and size. 3rd degree burns are divided into 2 subtypes - 3A and 3B. A 3A degree burn is characterized by damage to the deep layers of the epidermis and dermis, and an increase in soft tissue swelling. On initial stage the victim feels sharp pain, but later, due to the necrosis of soft tissues in the wound, it almost completely subsides.
In the area of 3rd degree damage, blisters practically do not appear, appearing only at the edges of the wound, where damage is usually smaller - 2nd or even 1st degree. If, during the healing of wounds of 1st and 2nd degrees, scars remain barely noticeable, then a 3rd degree burn is characterized by the appearance of hard scars. This will be especially noticeable on the hands. Scars appear because damaged dead tissue is replaced with new ones.
All of the above is also typical for a 3B degree burn, but with it deeper tissue damage occurs with the formation of a scab at the site of the lesion. The duration of treatment for such burns often exceeds a month, and in the first 10-12 days after the injury, dead tissue is rejected, and only after this does the actual healing of the wound begin.
With a fourth degree burn, not only the skin, but also the muscles and tendons underneath it die and char, and especially difficult cases– even bone tissue. A 4th degree burn means automatic hospitalization, since damaged tissues are exposed to high temperature melt. Therefore, their rejection and replacement with healthy tissue occurs very slowly - rejection can last several weeks. After healing, rough, ugly scars remain in the damaged areas, and scar contractures remain on the neck and joints.
First aid for burns
For a speedy recovery, timely and correct first aid to the victim immediately after a burn is very important. The nature of such assistance depends on the type of damage. In case of thermal injuries, which happen most often in everyday life, you first need to isolate the victim from damaging factors: protect from open fire, hide from sun rays, extinguish, and if possible, remove burning clothing, etc.
If the burn damage to the body is no more than 2nd degree, then you need to quickly rinse the damaged area with cold (15-18º) water to cool the damaged tissue. This procedure should be performed for 15-20 minutes, and then cover the damaged area with a clean cloth soaked in cold water.
If the victim received a severe burn (3rd degree), then wash the wound cold water This is not possible, in such cases it is necessary to cover the wound with a clean, damp cloth and immediately call an ambulance. If your hands or feet are burned, you should immediately remove all bracelets, rings and other items from them. Then you need to isolate the contact between your fingers by placing wet, clean cloths between them. And in any case, it would not be superfluous to give the victim a pain reliever containing paracetamol or ibuprofen.
In case of electrical burns, you must first isolate the victim from the source of the injury, while strictly observing personal safety rules. After this, cover the damaged areas with a bandage and seek help from an ambulance, since this type of lesion is the most insidious of all, since minor visual damage to the skin can seriously damage internal organs.
For various types chemical burns First aid varies greatly. If damaged by acids (except for sulfuric acid), the wound should be washed in ordinary cold water for 15-20 minutes. If affected by sulfuric acid, the burn should be washed with soapy water or treated with a 3% soda solution. If the source of damage was alkali, the wound should be thoroughly washed with water and then treated with a 2% solution of citric or acetic acid.
Regardless of the type of burn received, there is general rules providing assistance.

If the injury is not too serious (grade 1-2), then you should try to calm the victim as much as possible. In this case, it’s a good idea to give him warm (but not scalding) tea.
If the victim has lost consciousness, then you need to try to give his body the most comfortable position, and it is very important to ensure the most free access fresh air, for which you must unfasten the constricting clothes, and, if necessary, turn your head to the side to free the airways.
When providing first aid to a burn victim, it is important not only to know how to do it correctly, but also to know what you should never do:
tear off clothing stuck to the wound;
treat the burn with iodine or hydrogen peroxide;
lubricate damaged areas with oil, creams or sprinkle with powders;
puncture blisters and squeeze out their contents;
apply ice, cotton wool to the burned areas, bandage them or cover them with a band-aid.

Treating burn injuries at home
Today, Panthenol or sea buckthorn oil is most often used to treat small burn wounds. “Panthenol” can be purchased without a prescription at any pharmacy. It is available in the form of an ointment, spray or cream. It is based on the active substance dexpanthenol, which has remarkable healing, regenerating properties and anti-inflammatory effects.
Treatment with Panthenol gives the most effective results when applied to a fresh wound. After providing first aid, the wound should be treated with an antiseptic, and then a thin layer of Panthenol should be applied to the damaged area. During the day, you can use this remedy every 6 hours, and more often if necessary.
Sea buckthorn oil has unique healing and restorative properties, and it significantly reduces painful sensations from a burn. Treat wounds with soaked sterile sea buckthorn oil gauze pads, which are placed directly on the treated wound and bandaged with a sterile bandage.
If no complications arise during the healing process, the dressing is changed every 72 hours. But the condition of the wound must be monitored daily, and if signs of suppuration are detected, the bandage must be changed. The bandage is finally removed after 8-10 days.
Treatment at home is justified for minor household burns of 1-2 degrees. Under favorable circumstances, with the permission and under the supervision of a doctor, it is possible to treat third-degree superficial burns at home. In all other cases, treatment should be carried out in hospitals of specialized institutions.
In any case, even if you receive an extensive 2nd degree burn, it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible, since a person who receives such wounds inevitably experiences severe pain shock and may even fall into a coma.