Second-Degree Burn Care

Second-Degree Burn Care Locations

Second-Degree Burn Treatments

Becoming a Patient

Billing, Insurance & Financial Assistance

Your Visit

Shriners Children's Patient Portals

At Shriners Children’s, our team of burn care specialists treats all types of burns, from superficial injuries to large burns requiring an intensive level of care.

What is a second-degree burn?

A second-degree burn, or partial thickness burn, destroys the top and middle layers of the skin. In most cases, a partial thickness second-degree burn happens when skin touches a hot object or liquid, flames, chemicals or electricity. These burns are serious and painful, and they can leave parents desperate to find relief and expert care for their child. At Shriners Children’s our team of burn care specialists has been treating children with burn injuries for over 50 years. They will guide your family throughout the entirety of your child’s care, rehabilitation and recovery.

A second-degree burn will appear as moist and oozing, with patchy pink and white coloring, often with blisters. Healing time varies depending on just how deep the burn goes into the skin layers. Proper assessment of any burn is very important. Burns are almost never uniform in depth. The thickness of a person’s skin varies so a burn may be a second-degree burn in one area and a third-degree burn in another. Very young children have thinner skin overall, so an injury that seems superficial could be more serious than first thought. Estimating the burn degree in the first few days after an injury is difficult because the depth actually changes (usually getting deeper). Deeper burns may require surgery. If the burn injuries leave a scar, your child will have access to the latest technologies in laser treatments to minimize the size and appearance of the scar.

Be reassured that if your child suffers a burn, the team at Shriners Children's is prepared to care for them immediately following the injury and over time. All the specialists your child may need will be available when you come for care. Your child’s surgeons, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and care managers understand the concerns of children and parents navigating this journey.

Your child's care team may recommend pressure garment therapy to help manage scars caused by the burn injury. Pressure garments can help enhance the skin's appearance and improve mobility.

At Shriners Children's our make-up clinic specialists teach your child how to conceal scars and use make-up to soften their appearance. This helps build self-confidence during the healing process.

With the most innovative treatments available, the team at Shriners Children's will care for your child throughout the duration of their recovery.

Shriners Children's Burn Care Accreditation

Three Shriners Children's locations providing burn care are accredited by the American Burn Association (ABA) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as verified pediatric burn centers.

We have a strong connection to and history with the ABA. All of the Shriners Children's burn care chiefs of staff at the above locations have been presidents of the ABA. These distinctions display the depth of the burn care support services we provide, as well as the vast amounts of research we lead on behalf of our patients and children around the world who’ve been burned.

Specific treatments and services may vary by location. Please contact a specific location for more information.

Types of Second-Degree Burns

Depending on the depth of the wound, second-degree burns can take anywhere from one week to several months to heal.

Superficial second-degree burn wounds can take from 7-21 days to form the first layer of fragile new skin. This new skin can then take another one to two months to mature back to usual thickness. The color will often take several months and sometimes up to a year to return to the usual pigmentation. Superficial second-degree burns do not typically form raised scars.

Deep second-degree burn wounds can take four to six weeks before the wound can finally close. These wounds are at increased risk of forming raised scars.

Emergency Treatment of Second-Degree Burns

The first step is to stop the burning process! If emergency assistance is required, call 911. Once the injury has been assessed in an emergency setting, seek care at a healthcare facility with pediatric burn care expertise available.

For all burns caused by skin touching a hot object, liquid, or flames:

Stop the burning process
Cool the injury with cool (not cold) water or apply a cool, wet compress
Do not put ice on a burn
Leave blisters intact
Cover the burn wound with a clean, dry dressing

For all electrical burns:

When an electrical injury happens it is critical that you do not touch the injured person if he or she still is in contact with the current source (you may also get injured)
Turn off current

For all chemical burns:

Flush the area with large quantities of cool water to dilute and remove the chemical from the skin
If emergency transport is needed, EMS should flush eyes with water or saline during transport

Scar Treatment

Overview and Treatment of Second-Degree or Partial Thickness Burns for Healthcare Providers

Second degree or partial thickness burns extend beneath the epidermis and into the dermis. Blisters form at the dermal-epidermal interface. The roof of the blister is dead epidermis. The dead epidermis is not durable and usually offers little protection for the underlying dermis. When the blister breaks, the fluid leaks out, and the dermis may dry up.

Superficial partial thickness burns extend only through the first half or so of the dermis (papillary dermis) and will generally heal within 10-14 days. These wounds (beneath the blister) are usually pink, moist, and painful and heal with minimal or no scarring or functional impairment. In patients with dark skin, there may be a temporary or permanent loss of skin pigmentation after healing.

Treatment: Superficial partial thickness burns should heal with proper wound care in 7 to 14 days Once the wound is cleansed, an antibiotic ointment is applied and secured with a dressing. In some cases silver impregnated dressings are used that stay on for longer (approx. 7 days) without antibiotic ointment. Normal activity should continue during the healing process to maintain full range of motion.

Deep partial thickness burns may also have blisters, but the underlying tissue may be mottled or have yellow or white eschar with poor blanching. They may have decreased sensation in the deepest areas. Often they are hard to distinguish from third degree burns. Deep partial thickness burns heal in three to eight weeks if they do not become infected. When they heal without specialized care, there is likely to be severe scarring and a great risk for functional impairment. A skin graft for deep partial thickness burns can minimize this.

I will never forget this place and what it did for me.

Jason, Ohio

Share Your Story

View All Patient Stories

Request an Appointment

Refer a Patient

800-237-5055

Compassionate, innovative care that improves the quality of life for children and their families.

            {"items":[{"title":"Shriners Children's Texas","image":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/images/shc/location-entities/texas/texas_building_exterior_961x640_63296.ashx","imageAlt":null,"text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Texas and beyond","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.ashx","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"/en/Locations/Texas"},"itemId":"a32d4e02-f720-4176-b90b-80f85649936c"},{"title":"Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada","image":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/images/shc/location-entities/canada/canada_hospital_exterior_961x640_65566.ashx","imageAlt":null,"text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Montreal and beyond","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.ashx","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"/en/Locations/Canada"},"itemId":"e304f501-802a-473c-854b-e1e7274922bb"},{"title":"Shriners Children's Boston","image":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/images/shc/location-entities/boston/boston_hospital_back_view_961x640_64444.ashx","imageAlt":null,"text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Massachusetts and beyond","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.ashx","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"/en/Locations/Boston"},"itemId":"4d7701c3-5519-463a-a24f-5b24e647615e"},{"title":"Shriners Children's Southern California","image":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/images/shc/location-entities/southern-california/front_of_building_961x640_60428.ashx","imageAlt":null,"text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout California and beyond","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.ashx","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"/en/Locations/Southern-California"},"itemId":"ffc85f4f-14e6-480d-80b2-456c9db492e9"},{"title":"Shriners Children's Ohio","image":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/images/shc/location-entities/ohio/shriners_childrens_ohio_lobby_960x640.ashx","imageAlt":null,"text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Ohio and beyond","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.ashx","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"/en/Locations/Ohio"},"itemId":"ddbf36b9-bd4d-42c9-85de-b9feb25f3f5f"},{"title":"Shriners Children's Hawai`i","image":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/images/shc/location-entities/hawaii/honolulu_hospital_exterior_961x640_284.ashx","imageAlt":null,"text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Hawai`i and beyond","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.ashx","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"/en/Locations/Hawaii"},"itemId":"d06e3dc7-5685-4839-a75c-c8a154c874d2"},{"title":"Shriners Children's Northern California","image":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/images/shc/location-entities/ncal/sacramento_building_exterior_961x640_294.ashx","imageAlt":null,"text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Northern California, Western U.S., Northwestern Mexico and Canada","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/-/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.ashx","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"/en/Locations/Northern-California"},"itemId":"6912ff77-30d5-4c8a-bf67-783c912358d0"}]}

A World-Class Burn Surgical Team at Shriners Children's

From initial injury to reconstructive care and scar management, the specialized surgical team at Shriners Children's is dedicated to giving every child with a burn injury the opportunity to not only survive, but thrive.

Learn more about Burn Surgery

Innovative Treatments

View All Related Treatments

Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Burn Injury

Shriners Children's inpatient rehabilitation advances healing and mobility following a burn injury.

More About this Treatment

Burn Surgery

At Shriners Children’s, our world-class surgical team provides specialized care and life-changing treatment to children with burn injuries.

More About this Treatment

Plastic Surgery

Shriners Children’s experienced pediatric plastic surgeons use reconstructive plastic surgery techniques to bring hope and healing to families dealing with differences involving the face, jaw, eyelids, ears, breasts or skin.

More About this Treatment

Reconstructive Surgery

Shriners Children’s provides innovative, personalized care for children with reconstructive needs.

More About this Treatment

Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Burn Injury

Shriners Children's inpatient rehabilitation advances healing and mobility following a burn injury.

More About this Treatment

Burn Surgery

At Shriners Children’s, our world-class surgical team provides specialized care and life-changing treatment to children with burn injuries.

More About this Treatment

Plastic Surgery

More About this Treatment

Reconstructive Surgery

Shriners Children’s provides innovative, personalized care for children with reconstructive needs.

More About this Treatment

Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Burn Injury

Shriners Children's inpatient rehabilitation advances healing and mobility following a burn injury.

More About this Treatment

Next Steps

Request an Appointment

Families and caregivers seeking treatment should start by contacting us for an appointment.

Get Started

Log in to the Patient Portal

Parents and guardians of existing patients can email, request records, schedule appointments and more.

Refer a Patient

Physicians and healthcare providers can request appointments, start transfers or contact us with questions.

Send Referral

Second-Degree Burn Care

At Shriners Children’s, our team of burn care specialists treats all types of burns, from superficial injuries to large burns requiring an intensive level of care.

What is a second-degree burn?

Shriners Children's Burn Care Accreditation

Types of Second-Degree Burns

Emergency Treatment of Second-Degree Burns

Scar Treatment

Overview and Treatment of Second-Degree or Partial Thickness Burns for Healthcare Providers

Locations That Offer Burn Care Treatment

A World-Class Burn Surgical Team at Shriners Children's

Innovative Treatments

Burn Surgery

Next Steps

Request an Appointment

Log in to the Patient Portal

Refer a Patient