There are few people who haven’t accidentally burned themselves by touching a hot oven, or by turning the tap too far to the left. You put some ice on the burn or run cold water over it, and the pain goes away. When a burn is far more serious, however, it can have long-term effects on your health. Burns are measured in degrees of severity: First-degree. These are the least serious burns; the examples we listed earlier like touching a hot surface or running the tap too hot are good examples. A first-degree burn usually presents with redness or swelling, and medical treatment may not be necessary unless the burn encompasses a large part of the body. Second-degree. Second-degree burns reach the second layer of your skin and are painful. Most second-degree burns cause blisters, and if they cover a large enough area they require medical attention. There could be scarring, which may or may not be permanent. According to the Mayo Clinic, the in-home treatment of smaller second-degree burns is different than that of first-degree burns. If you are unsure what to do, however, you should seek out a doctor. Third-degree. A third-degree burn cuts through every layer of skin and will almost always result in permanent scarring. (J.R. Martinez, the Army veteran who won Dancing with the Stars a few years ago, experienced third-degree burns as a result of military combat.) The skin may turn white around the affected area, or may take on a charred look. Because third-degree burns reach the nerves, victims typically do not feel pain. These injuries are incredibly serious and require expert medical attention immediately. Fourth-degree. A fourth-degree burn is usually fatal. The injury extends into the muscle and tissues and eventually into the bones. If a victim survives, skin grafts and other surgeries will be necessary. Fifth-degree and sixth-degree. Usually diagnosed during an autopsy, burns of this severity are overwhelmingly fatal. If a victim does survive, the chances are high that the burned body part would need to be amputated.