Types of 3rd Degree Burns

There are three degrees of burns, with third degree burns being the most severe. Third degree burns damage all the layers of the skin and require immediate hospital care. Large third degree burns may require skin grafts or surgery even though they are sometimes less painful than first and second degree burns because the nerves and tissue in the skin are damaged.

Hot Water / Steam Burns

• Steam causes the same amount of damage as actually spilling hot water on your skin.

  Hot water burns are the most common type of burns, with children and older adults most at risk. Hot water burns can result from spilled coffee or too-hot shower or bath water. Steam burns often happen in industrial environments or in the kitchen when skin comes too close to boiling water.

Hot Oil / Grease Burns

• Accidents while cooking with hot oil are the main cause of hot oil burns.

  Hot oil and grease burns are more dangerous than hot water scalds because oil heats to a higher temperature than water. Oil is also thicker than water so it can potentially remain on the skin for a longer period of time, causing more damage. Most hot oil and grease burns happen in the home when people are cooking with or transporting hot oil and it splashes or spills.

Chemical Burns

• Ammonia can cause third degree burns if spilled on your skin.

  Chemical burns are caused when your skin comes into contact with household or industrial chemicals in a solid, liquid or gas form. Most commonly this happens when a household cleaner or other chemical compound is accidentally spilled or splashed. Ammonia is one of the most common chemical compounds found in the home that can cause a chemical burn.

Electrical Burns

• Being hit by lightning can cause an electrical burn.

  Electrical burns occur when skin comes into contact with high voltage electricity. The severity of electrical burns may not be obvious right away as discoloration and damage to the skin is not always apparent until hours or even days after the exposure occurred. Examples of an electrical burn include household electrical shock and being struck by lightning.