Burn Awareness Week Burns can be caused by fire, hot liquids, steam, sun, chemicals, electricity and, according to the Firefighters Burn Treatment Society, even garlic if placed on exposed skin for a few hours. But don t turn down Italian food. Just realize that with a little common sense, most burns can be prevented. A first degree burn involves only the top layer of skin. The skin is red and dry, and the burn is usually painful.
Most sunburns are first degree burns.
In a second degree burn, the skin is red and has blisters that may open and weep clear fluid. The skin appears mottled. These burns are also very painful. Third degree burns destroy all layers of skin and any or all of the underlying tissues such as fat, muscle, bones and nerves. These burns look brown or black.