Second-degree burns are often caused by direct contact with very hot liquids. They can also result from contact with gasoline, kerosene, and chemicals. Symptoms of second-degree burns include red or blotchy skin , blisters , and swelling . Second-degree burns are noticeably wet. This wetness results when plasma, the liquid part of blood , seeps out through the damaged skin layers.
Severe sunburns are second-degree burns.
Third-degree burns occur when the heat is at a higher temperature or the contact is longer. They might result from direct contact with flames, chemicals, or electricity, or from immersion in hot water. With third-degree burns all skin layers are destroyed, resulting in a charred grayish appearance. A person with a third-degree burn will not feel pain because the nerve endings have been destroyed. Symptoms your physician may observe Your physician will note the extent of damage to skin , fat, and muscle.