Mild, or first degree burns cause only reddening of the epidermis
(outer layer of the skin), as seen in this photograph. Second
degree burns cause blistering and extend into the dermis (lower
layer of skin). Third degree burns cause tissue death through the
dermis and affect underlying tissues.
Review Date: 01/13/2010
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason
Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve,
MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
