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Burns

1st Degree Burn (superficial burns): Reddened skin without blisters (usually doesn't need to be seen).
2nd Degree Burn (partial thickness burns): Reddened skin with blisters (heals from the bottom up within 2 to 3 weeks).

Small closed blisters (narrower than 1 inch) serve as a dressing and to reduce pain. Blister fluid contains protective chemicals.
Large closed blisters (wider than 1 inch) often break and open up. The dead skin needs to removed (debridement).
All open blisters need trimming of the dead skin. Most open blisters are empty of fluid. A blister with a small opening and slow fluid leak can be recognized because it looks like wrinkled skin.

3rd Degree Burn (full thickness burns): Deep burn with white or charred skin. The burned area loses sensation to pain and touch (feels numb). Usually needs a skin graft to prevent bad scarring if it is larger than a quarter (1 inch or 2.5 cm) in size.

General Information

Thermal burns are skin injuries caused by heat. Common examples are burns from hot water or hot drinks. Other common causes of thermal burns include hot ovens, stoves, electric or kerosene space heaters, exhaust pipes, hot grease, hair-curling irons, and clothes irons.
Chemical burns result from lye, acids, or other tissue-damaging chemicals splashed on the skin. If the chemical is washed off immediately, most of these accidents will cause only first-degree burns.

FIRST AID: for Thermal Burns

Immediately (don't take time to remove clothing) put the burned part in cold tap water or pour cold water over it for 10 minutes. For burns on the face, apply a cold, wet washcloth. Reason: lessens the depth of the burn and relieves pain.

FIRST AID: for Chemical Burns