how to differentiate between 2nd and 3rd degree burns?

[bmacd]

i burned my calf pretty bad on my muffler. There's bubbles on the skin, there's a patch of skin missing, and it's pussy (read: puss-eee, not to be confused with pus-ee...er...this isn't working. Well, there's puss there) at times, as well as some darkened/hardened skin around the edge of the missing patch. Does this constitute a 3rd degree burn?

-=bmacd=-

 

[iamwiz82]

exhaust from your bike?

 

[vi edit]

Hardend, pussy, darkened skin sounds border line 3rd degree to me. I'd seek some medical attention. Infections are baaaaad.

 

[rahvin]

You should have a doctor look at it. 3rd degree's there is no skin left. If in fact you do have a 3rd degree you need to get it treated ASAP. Skin is a barrier to infection, once you burn the skin off you can get some really nasty infections.

 

[pyonir]

did it happen twice, or what?

 

[IcemanJer]

yeah that sounds more or less like a third degree burn.
seek medical treatment right away.

 

[aphex]

3rd degree burns occur when you double post.

 

[ElFenix]

i thought it was when there was no pain because you burned your nerve endings away.

 

[IcemanJer]

WebMD.com - second degree burn

WebMD.com - burn: topic overview

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: IcemanJer
second degree - skin is soft squishy and tender, clearly showing burnt beyond just skin turning red.
third degree - broken skin, possible charring, when skin grows back it might lose pigment colour.

appears to be 2nd degree based on his explanation. I have no bandage covering it, maybe i should put one on

It's about the size of a fist, and yes, it's from my bike. I got one last year too, but it went away after two weeks of pain and moaning.

-=bmacd=-

 

[CubicZirconia]

2nd degree burns occur when blisters occur on the skin. Third degree burns occur when the skin/flesh is actually charred. I would say your burn is partially 2nd degree and partially 3rd degree.

 

[Ameesh]

it is a second degree , especially if ithurts, 3rd degrees are so bad you cannot feel it anymore.