Burn Injury
What is Burn Injury?
A burn injury happens when heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation damages your skin and underlying tissues. Burns range from minor wounds that heal on their own to severe injuries that require medical care. Doctors classify burns by depth: first-degree burns affect only the outer skin layer, second-degree burns reach deeper layers, and third-degree burns destroy all skin layers.
When your body experiences a burn, your blood vessels respond immediately. Damaged capillaries leak plasma, the liquid part of your blood, into surrounding tissues. This causes swelling at the burn site and changes your blood composition. Your remaining blood becomes more concentrated because you have fewer fluids but the same number of red blood cells.
Monitoring your blood during burn recovery helps doctors understand how your body is healing. Blood tests reveal whether you need more fluids, if infection is developing, or if your organs are handling the stress. Early detection of these changes allows for faster treatment adjustments and better outcomes.
Symptoms
- Redness and pain at the injury site
- Blistering or peeling skin
- Swelling around the burned area
- White or blackened, charred skin in severe cases
- Fever or chills if infection develops
- Increased thirst and dry mouth from fluid loss
- Dizziness or confusion in major burns
- Decreased urine output
- Rapid heartbeat as your body compensates
- Fatigue and weakness during recovery
Minor burns may cause only surface symptoms. Severe burns can affect your entire body as it struggles to maintain normal function. Some people underestimate burn severity because shock can temporarily mask pain.
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Causes and risk factors
Burns most often result from contact with hot liquids, flames, or heated surfaces. Chemical burns happen when acids or alkalis touch your skin. Electrical burns occur when current passes through your body. Radiation burns come from sun exposure, tanning beds, or medical radiation. Your risk increases if you work with heat sources, chemicals, or electricity. Young children and older adults are more vulnerable because their skin is thinner.
Certain factors make burn injuries more dangerous. Diabetes slows healing and increases infection risk. Poor circulation limits blood flow to damaged tissue. Weakened immune systems struggle to fight infection. Malnutrition means your body lacks resources to rebuild tissue. Smoking reduces oxygen delivery to wounds. The size and location of your burn matter too. Burns covering large areas or affecting your face, hands, feet, or joints require specialized care.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose burns by examining the affected area and assessing depth, size, and location. They use the rule of nines to estimate what percentage of your body is burned. This helps them determine treatment intensity. For burns covering more than 10 percent of your body, blood tests become essential monitoring tools.
Hematocrit testing measures the percentage of red blood cells in your blood. After a significant burn, this number rises as plasma leaks from damaged blood vessels. High hematocrit tells doctors you need fluid replacement to prevent shock and organ damage. Rite Aid offers hematocrit testing through Quest Diagnostics at over 2,000 locations nationwide. Regular monitoring during recovery helps your medical team adjust your treatment plan. Additional tests may check for infection, kidney function, and electrolyte balance.
Treatment options
- Cool the burn immediately with running water for 10 to 20 minutes
- Cover the wound with sterile, non-stick dressings changed regularly
- Drink plenty of fluids to replace what your body loses
- Eat high-protein foods to support tissue repair
- Take prescribed pain medications as directed
- Apply topical antibiotic ointments to prevent infection
- Receive intravenous fluids for major burns to maintain blood pressure
- Undergo skin grafts if your body cannot heal deep burns naturally
- Work with physical therapists to maintain movement and prevent scarring
- Avoid sun exposure on healing skin for at least one year
Concerned about Burn Injury? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
See a doctor if your burn is larger than three inches across, affects your face, hands, feet, joints, or groin, or appears white or charred. Also seek care if the burn is caused by chemicals or electricity. First-degree burns covering small areas can usually heal at home with proper care.
Burns damage the tiny blood vessels in your skin, causing them to leak plasma into surrounding tissues. You lose fluid but keep the same number of red blood cells. This makes your blood more concentrated, which doctors measure using hematocrit tests. Too much concentration can lead to blood clots and organ damage.
For major burns, doctors typically check your blood daily at first, then less frequently as you heal. Minor burns usually do not require blood testing. Your medical team decides based on burn size, depth, and your overall health. Regular monitoring catches problems before they become serious.
Keep your burn clean and covered with sterile dressings. Change bandages as directed by your doctor. Watch for signs of infection like increased pain, swelling, redness spreading beyond the burn, pus, or fever. Eat nutritious foods and stay hydrated to support your immune system.
Focus on high-protein foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, beans, and Greek yogurt to rebuild damaged tissue. Include vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, and broccoli to support collagen formation. Zinc from nuts, seeds, and whole grains also aids healing. Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids.
First-degree burns typically heal within 7 to 10 days. Second-degree burns take 2 to 3 weeks for shallow injuries and up to 8 weeks for deeper damage. Third-degree burns require surgical intervention and may take months to heal. Scarring and skin changes can continue improving for up to two years.
First-degree burns rarely scar. Second-degree burns may cause light scarring, especially if they become infected. Third-degree burns almost always leave significant scars. Proper wound care, staying hydrated, protecting healing skin from sun, and using silicone scar sheets can minimize scarring.
Large burns cause massive fluid loss through damaged skin and leaking blood vessels. Without replacement, your blood pressure drops and organs shut down. IV fluids restore blood volume, maintain circulation, and prevent shock. Blood tests like hematocrit guide how much fluid you need.
Yes, major burns affect your entire system. Fluid loss can damage kidneys. Smoke inhalation harms lungs. Stress hormones spike blood sugar. Your metabolism speeds up dramatically, burning through nutrients. Infection can spread to your bloodstream. This is why close monitoring through blood work is so important.
For minor burns, you can resume most activities once the wound is covered and protected. Avoid swimming or soaking until skin fully closes. For major burns, recovery takes months and requires gradual reintroduction of movement. Follow your doctor's guidance and work with physical therapists to regain function safely.