Classification of Burns Based on Depth Characteristics
Classification	Cause	Appearance	Sensation	Healing time	Scarring
Superficial burn	Ultraviolet light,very short flash (flame exposure)	Dry and red; blanches with pressure	Painful	3 to 6 days	None
Superficial partial thickness burn	Scald (spill or splash),short flash	Blisters; moist,red and weeping; blanches with pressure	Painful to air and temperature	7 to 20 days	Unusual; potential pigmentary changes
Deep partial thickness burn	Scald (spill), flame, oil, grease	Blisters (easily unroofed); wet or waxy dry; variable color (patchy to cheesy white to red); does not blanch with pressure	Perceptive of pressure only	More than 21 days	Severe (hypertrophic) risk of contracture
Full thickness	Scald (immersion), flame, steam, oil, grease, chemical, high-voltage electricity	Waxy white to leathery gray to charred and black; dry and inelastic;does not blanch with pressure	Deep pressure only	Never (if the burn affects more than 2 percent of the total surface area of the body)	Very severe risk of contrac ture

Referral to a burn unit is indicated for patients who meet the criteria for major burns as defined by the ABA (Table 2). Included are patients who manifest inhalation injury or have burn marks from high-voltage electrical injury.

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