Medical experts categorize burns into three levels of severity.
The higher the degree of the burn, the more damage the burn has caused and the more painful and time-consuming the recovery.
First-degree burns. A first-degree burn damages only the outermost layer of skin. Redness or inflammation may appear around the burn area. People can treat some first-degree burns at home with cool water and aloe. If the pain and injury persist after a week, your injury might require medical attention.
Second-degree burns. More severe, second-degree burns damage more layers of skin. Second-degree burns often cause blistering and may take weeks to heal. If not properly treated, a second-degree burn can lead to infection and cause further pain.
Third-degree burns. Third-degree burns are the most severe burns. These injuries cause such extensive damage that victims may not feel any pain. That happens because the burn victim’s nerve endings were burned away. Third-degree burns often cause white or black dry wounds and can be so deep that the injury affects organs and bones. If not immediately treated by a medical professional, third-degree burns can be deadly.