Physical destruction of skin

Clinical Nutrition
Lesson 32: Burns

Physical destruction of skin

Classification for depth of burns

First degree burns involve epidermal layers only .

Second degree burns involves epidermis and varying depths of the dermis .

Third degree burns are an injury of full skin thickness with destruction of all epithelial elements.

The depth of a burn determines its severity. First degree burns damage the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and cause pain, redness and swelling (erythema). Second degree burns damage the epidermis and the inner layer, the dermis, causing erythema and blistering. Damage from third degree burns extend into the hypodermis, causing destruction of the full thickness of skin with its nerve supply (numbness). Third degree burns leave scars and may cause loss of function and/or sensation.

Consequences- Destruction of the skin permits loss of water, heat and water soluble materials. It also allows micro organisms to gain access to subcutaneous tissue.

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Last modified: Monday, 7 November 2011, 6:59 AM