What Is A First Degree Burn


Knowing what is a first degree burn and how it differs from the other stages of burns is important knowledge everyone needs to understand. Letting your skin touch something extremely hot can result in a burn. Although this action happens on a daily basis in the home and in work place environments, it is an event that has to be taken seriously and treated with care. Unfortunately, some burns, like a 3rd degree burn can result in fatality for some. To protect your body and get familiar with what you can do to take immediate care, distinguishing what is a first degree burn and what the effective treatments are that may result in a positive healing process and improved health.

Most burns are events that happen at home or in workplace are quite normal occurrences. It doesn’t take long to realize you have encounter heat of high levels resulting in injury People have experienced burns in some form or fashion. Around the house, someone could accidentally touch a hot iron. Anyone that is boiling, water and spills it on themselves may experience what is called a scalding burn. Frying foods in your kitchen could result in a grease splash that is equally painful.

Another typical burn is when curling your hair with a hot curling iron that touches your finger or arm when you are in a hurry. Even severe sunburns fall within this category. Although these burns are extremely painful and may cause redness and a lot of uncomfortable feelings, it is not as serious as a third degree burn. In the workplace environment you may hear of chemical burns from toxic solutions resulting in burns.

There is hot and there is hotter. When you get burned that will fall in the hotter category, as you may already know, but to put it into a factual term when heat reaches one hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit, it is hot enough to burn you. This temperature will result in a first degree burn which is the mildest stage. Being a lower risk burn, it can be treated without seeking the help of a healthcare provider and emergency assistance is not traditionally needed.

To help you determine the signs of what is a first degree burn in the event you should have an encounter with heat, there are a few things to look for. The skin in many cases will turn red. You will notice an inflamed area or swelling of the skin in the affected area. Of course, it is going to have pain associated in the area and when it is touched it will be sensitive. If you have these symptoms, the good news is, it is not a third degree burn and can be treated with medical aides and treatments like duoderm which are affordable and can be purchased at many stores where you can find healthcare products.

In understanding what is a first degree burn you should know it is a mild condition only burning the first layer of your skin. The signs will be visible, but the quicker you apply an ointment or duoderm product specific to treating burns, the faster the pain will go away and the healing process will begin.