You’ve probably heard of first-, second-, and third-degree burns before. These medical classifications, detailed by doctors, help classify the severity of a burn injury. Though any burn, by definition, causes affected skin cells to die, there’s a big difference between first-degree and third-degree burns.
Third-degree burns are characterized by:
Dark brown or white, waxy skin color
Evidence of char
Raised site of injury
Leathery skin texture
Blisters that do not progress or heal
Potential numbness of wound
A third-degree burn affects both the dermis and the epidermis. Hair follicles and sweat glands are destroyed, and nerves may be damaged. These types of burns do not heal well on their own and require skin grafts due to the level of destruction. Beyond third-degree burns are three further classifications: fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-degree, which affect one’s fat, muscle, and bone, respectively.