Burns research

Everytime we create a special effects burn we need to research the nature of it. Is it a first degree or a third degree burn? To make the burn look as real as possible, it's essential to know something about the human skin.

A person’s skin can suffer burns from various causes. The most common are accidents involve direct contact with liquids or hot objects, chemicals, steam, electricity, heat or prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Type I burns – are the easiest type of burns that a person may experience and involve damage to the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis. Your skin will be reddened, painful and swollen. If the first-degree burn has not affected a large area of skin, it can be treated at home.
Second-degree burns – are those in which the second layer of skin (hypodermis) is injured. In case of this kind of burns, the skin will be red with spots and on the burning areas vesicles will be present. Second-degree burns cause pain and inflammation. If a person experiences a small second-degree burn it can be treated at home, but if the area burnt is extensive or involves hands, feet, the face, the groin, buttocks or a major joint, you will have to go to the doctor or hospital for professional care.
Third degree burns – involve all layers of the skin and possibly localized structures under the skin. Some areas are often black, charred. The pain may be severe, but if a nerve has been damaged due to burning, the pain is likely to be diminished or not present.


References:

• How to prevent and treat skin burns (2014) Available at: http://healthdefine.com/medical-advice/prevention-and-treatment-of-burns (Accessed: 9 February 2016).