Accidents can happen at unexpected times in our lives. Sometimes, we get burned by a hot water spill, or when cooking, we get burned by oil. While most of these burns are minor, some are much more serious than you might think. Today, we are going to talk about the most serious type of burn, called third-degree burns, or `(Third-Degree Burns)`. It is very important for you and your loved ones to know about this.
Simply put, what is a third-degree burn?
A burn is damage to our skin and the tissues underneath it, caused by something like high temperature, chemicals, or electricity. A third-degree burn is when this damage goes much deeper.
Think of our skin as a three-layer cake.
1. The top layer (Epidermis): This is the part of the skin that we see.
2. Second layer (Dermis): This is where things like sweat glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels are located.
3. Third layer (Hypodermis): This is the deepest layer, made up of fat.
In a third-degree burn, all three of these layers are damaged . Not only that, but even the nerve endings beneath the skin are destroyed.
The scariest thing here is that you don't feel any pain in the burned area because the nerves are destroyed. Because there's no pain, some people think, "Oh... this isn't that big of a deal." But that's actually the scariest thing. Even if you don't feel any pain, the damage is very serious.
What does a third-degree burn look like?
There are several signs that can identify a burn like this. You may not see all of these signs at once.
- Burnt skin looks like leather .
- The skin becomes very dry .
- The skin color changes. It can be white, black, or dark red .
- The burned area swells .
The most important thing is that when you press on the burned area with your finger, it doesn't turn white and then turn red again. This usually happens with first and second degree burns. But it doesn't happen with third degree burns.
Often, a third-degree burn is accompanied by symptoms of a second-degree burn, such as blisters and shiny, moist skin.
Let's know exactly the difference between burn levels
Burns are classified according to how deep the skin is damaged. This table will help you understand this easily.
| Burn level | Damaged skin layers | General appearance |
|---|---|---|
| First-degree | Only the top layer of the skin (epidermis). | Skin redness, slight swelling, pain. (e.g. sunburn) |
| Second-degree | The upper and middle layers of the skin (Epidermis & Dermis). | Blisters, deep redness, severe pain. |
| Third-degree | All three layers of skin and the fat layer (Hypodermis). | Skin turning white/black/tan, dry appearance, no pain sensation . |
| Levels four, five, and six | These are very serious. The damage can extend to the muscles, tendons, and bones. | The skin is completely destroyed, exposing the underlying tissue. |
Most importantly, any third-degree burn or more serious requires immediate medical attention . Never attempt to treat it at home.
What causes such serious burns?
Anything that causes a normal burn can cause a third-degree burn, depending on the length of time the skin is in contact with the substance and its intensity (severity).
- Flame: Direct exposure to fire.
- Hot objects: Having something like a hot iron or silencer in contact with the body for a long time.
- Hot water or steam: Cooking in boiling water, oil, or steam from a pressure cooker.
- Electricity: High-voltage electric shock.
- Chemicals: Skin contact with strong acids or bases.
- Extreme cold: Leaving very cold objects (e.g. dry ice) on the skin for a long time.
How do you treat a third-degree burn?
If you or someone else has a burn like this, the first thing to do is go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) . Don't just stay home and pretend you don't have pain. At the hospital, doctors will follow these steps:
1. Cleaning the burn: The doctor will carefully remove dead skin, tissue, and other debris from the burn area and clean it. You should not remove anything at home or try to pop the blisters.
2. Covering the burn: After cleaning, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the burn with a clean bandage. This is very important to prevent infection. Your doctor will instruct you on how to change this bandage daily.
3. Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to prevent infection or to treat an existing infection. If the burn is severe, these medications may be given intravenously through a saline solution.
4. Replenish body fluids: A major burn can cause a large amount of valuable body fluids and blood to be lost. This can lead to shock and even death. Therefore, saline is given to replenish the lost fluids.
5. Painkillers: Even if you don't feel any pain when you get burned, you may experience pain as the wound heals. Your doctor will prescribe the necessary painkillers.
6. Skin Grafting: If the burn is very severe, a skin graft may be necessary to help the wound heal faster. This involves taking a thin layer of skin from a healthy area of the body and attaching it to the burned area.
Will this burn leave a scar?
Yes, a third-degree burn is more likely to leave a scar . But if you follow your doctor's instructions and take care of the wound, you can keep the scar as small as possible. Over time, these scars may even fade.
How can you prevent such severe burns?
"Precaution is the best medicine," they say. Many burn injuries can be prevented.
- Keep things like hot water, irons, and electrical cords out of reach of children.
- Keep the temperature of water heating appliances within limits.
- Check the temperature before giving food or drinks to children.
- Be very careful when approaching open flames (stoves, fireplaces).
- Be sure to wear protective gloves when using chemicals.
- Use sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun when going out in the sun.
Take-Home Message
- A third-degree burn is a very serious medical emergency .
- The fact that you don't feel pain at the burn site doesn't mean the damage is minimal, it means the nerves have been destroyed.
- Never try to treat a burn like this at home . Go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately.
- Do not apply anything like toothpaste, ice, or butter to the burn. Cover the burn gently with a clean, dry cloth and go to the hospital.
- If you are not sure what level of burn you have, definitely see a doctor .
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 Dronedarone (Dronedarone / Multaq) tablets are a very powerful medicine used for which disease?
This is not an ordinary heart disease pill! It is a powerful and new class III antiarrhythmic drug (similar to amiodarone, but without the iodine) that doctors use to normalize the rhythm of a patient's heart, which is a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart suddenly beat abnormally/rapidly (Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter) and reduce the risk of future hospitalizations.
💬 When the heart is beating like crazy, how can this pill (Dronedarone) normalize the heart rhythm?
This is a broad-spectrum blocker that blocks every gate in the heart! When it reaches the heart, it blocks the 'Potassium gates (which cut off the cell's reset for the longest time), the 'Sodium gates' that charge, the 'Calcium gates' that contract, and the 'Adrenaline / Beta-blockade' message from the brain that tells the heart to beat faster. Then, no matter how fast the heart beats, it slows down and returns to normal.
💬 What are the 'fatal dangers' (Black Box Warning) that people taking this medicine (Multaq) should be aware of?
The dangers are extremely serious! If you have a heart condition that has reduced pumping power/Heart Failure, you should not drink this, as it can cause sudden cardiac arrest and death (Double the risk of death)! Also, some people's livers will be 100% destroyed (Hepatotoxicity), and if a new liver is not transplanted, the patient will die.
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