Burn Evaluation

A burn is damage to your skin and/or other tissues that may be caused by: Heat, such as fire, steam, and hot surfaces or liquids. These are called thermal burns. They are the most common type of burn.; Chemicals, such as acids or certain cleaning products.; Electricity, including lightning.; Radiation, including: Sunburn.; Burns from radiation therapy for cancer.; ; Friction.

A friction burn happens when skin is scraped on a rough surface. The skin is torn and often burned from the heat caused by friction. Common causes of friction burns include bicycle and motorcycle accidents when skin rubs against the pavement.

These friction burns are sometimes called 'road rash.' Carpet burns and rope burns are also types of friction burns.; A burn evaluation is an exam that health care providers do to find out how serious a burn is. The evaluation is done to estimate: How deep into the skin the burn goes. The burn depth may be called the degree of the burn or the thickness of the burn.; How much of the skin is burned.

This is called the extent of the burn.; This information helps providers decide how to treat a burn. You can often treat minor burns at home. But if you've been badly burned, you may need care in a hospital or a special burn center.

Other names for this test

burn assessment