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Will First Degree Burn Leave A Scar?

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Posted on Tue, 11 Feb 2014
Question: My daughter was burned with a flat iron 5 days ago. Her doctor said the burn is a first degree and there'll be no scarring. After doing my own research I find it hard to believe the burn is a first degree and not a second degree. Is it really a first degree and will there be any scarring? I've been keeping it clean, applying the prescribed cream and covering the burn with gauze.
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Answered by Dr. Timothy Raichle (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer: I will try to help you with your question... Detailed Answer: Burn depth has traditionally been classified as first, second, third, or fourth degree, but in the US it has largely been replaced by a slightly different classification system. 1. Superficial (1st degree) 2. Partial-thickness (2nd degree) Here are more details on these two: Superficial: Superficial involve only the outer layer of skin. They do not blister but are painful, dry, red, and blanch with pressure (meaning that when you press on the burn it turns white, but then blood flows back in to the original color). Over 1-3 days the pain and redness subsides, and by days 4-5 the outer lay may peal away revealing a healed layer underneath. These are generally healed in six days without scarring. (Sunburns fall under this category) Partial-thickness These burns are different in that they form blisters within 24 hours. They are painful, red, blanch with pressure, but might also "weep" fluid from the surface. These burns heal in 7 to 21 days; scarring is unusual, although pigment changes may occur. So, I think that your daughters burn falls somewhere in between a first and second degree burn. Scarring is unlikely but there might be some change in the color or pigment of the skin. I hope that this helps and good luck and be careful.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Timothy Raichle

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Practicing since :1999

Answered : 1687 Questions

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Will First Degree Burn Leave A Scar?

Brief Answer: I will try to help you with your question... Detailed Answer: Burn depth has traditionally been classified as first, second, third, or fourth degree, but in the US it has largely been replaced by a slightly different classification system. 1. Superficial (1st degree) 2. Partial-thickness (2nd degree) Here are more details on these two: Superficial: Superficial involve only the outer layer of skin. They do not blister but are painful, dry, red, and blanch with pressure (meaning that when you press on the burn it turns white, but then blood flows back in to the original color). Over 1-3 days the pain and redness subsides, and by days 4-5 the outer lay may peal away revealing a healed layer underneath. These are generally healed in six days without scarring. (Sunburns fall under this category) Partial-thickness These burns are different in that they form blisters within 24 hours. They are painful, red, blanch with pressure, but might also "weep" fluid from the surface. These burns heal in 7 to 21 days; scarring is unusual, although pigment changes may occur. So, I think that your daughters burn falls somewhere in between a first and second degree burn. Scarring is unlikely but there might be some change in the color or pigment of the skin. I hope that this helps and good luck and be careful.