Angela Schaumburg, age 14, of Stouffville, Ont., Canada for her question:    

HOW DO DOCTORS DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF A BURN?

Burns are painful injuries that can be caused by a number of things. Generally when we think of a burn we think of fire, but hot objects, chemicals, electricity and violent rubbing can also cause a burn. And for heaven's sake don't forget about the sun and sun lamps. They can also cause painful, and sometimes downright serious, burns. Injuries caused by hot liquids, steam or other hot vapors are called scalds and are generally treated in the same manner as burns.

Burns are classified according to the depth of tissue injury. First degree burns, like a sunburn, leave the surface of the skin red and quite painful to the touch. Swelling may occur, but the skin is not broken or blistered. Second¬degree burns involve a deeper layer of the skin and are accompanied by puffy, liquid filled blisters. Third degree burns are deep and involve destruction of the skin and possibly charring. Many times skin grafts are necessary when third¬degree burns occur.