Table 1.

Classification of Burn Depth

Depth	Level of Injury	Clinical Features	Result/Treatment
Superficial (1st degree)	Epidermis	Dry, red; blanches; painful	Healing time 3–6 days, no scarring
Superficial partial thickness (Superficial 2nd degree)	Papillary dermis	Blisters; moist, red, weeping; blanches; severe pain to touch	Cleaning; topical agent; sterile dressing; healing time 7–21 days; hypertrophic scar rare; return of full function
Deep partial thickness (Deep 2nd degree)	Reticular dermis Most skin appendages destroyed	Blisters; wet or waxy dry; reduced blanching: decreased pain sensation to touch, pain present to deep pressure	Cleaning; topical agent; sterile dressing; possible surgical excision and grafting; scarring common if not surgically excised and grafted; earlier return of function with surgery
Full thickness (3rd degree)	Epidermis and dermis; all skin appendages destroyed	Waxy white to leathery dry and inelastic; does not blanch; absent pain sensation; pain present to deep pressure: pain present in surrounding areas of second degree burn	Treatment as for deep partial- thickness burns plus surgical excision and grafting at earliest possible time; scarring and functional limitation more common if not grafted
Fourth degree	Involves fascia and muscle and/or bone	Pain to deep pressure, in the area of burn; Increased pain in surrounding areas of second degree burn	Healing requires surgical intervention