Skin Burns Research Paper

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According to a recent Anatomy and Physiology lecture, burns are defined as “injury or death to skin cells.” There are several different categories of skin burns; these include heat, cold temperature, electrical, chemical, radiation, and friction burns. When it comes to talking about skin burns, it may be safe to say that most assume the conversation is about sun burn. Burning of the skin from UV rays is classified as a radiation burn and can occur either outside or inside. However, it would seem as though heat burns as more common; an example would be from a hot liquid (WebMD).
Burns are classified into a few categories: first, second, third, or fourth degree burns. The least severe of the four is a first degree burn, while fourth degree burns …show more content…

The damaged skin is painful (often tender and sore), and red in color – but it does not blister. After a few days, the epithelial tissues will peel and flake off, revealing a newly formed layer. A second degree burn is classified as a partial or full-thickness burn and involve the epidermis and upper layers of the dermis. If it is a partial thickness burn, the burn is pink or red in color, and it appears to be wet (due to the oozing blisters). It is also painful, and heals in several weeks. For full thickness burns, all of the epidermis and most of the dermis is destroyed – leaving a dry, red or even white appearance depending on the severity. There is not much pain to this level of a burn. Oddly enough, when it comes to third degree burns, there is no pain – even though it is the most severe. In third degree burns, all of the skin is destroyed and the burn continues into subcutaneous tissue. Instead of a red color, the skin may be black or white, and have a dry leather-like look to it. Lastly, a fourth degree burn is a full thickness burn that extends into muscle and bone (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015). For both third and fourth degree burns, skin grafts are often necessary in order for repair and growth to occur to the damaged area of

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