Education, not medical advice
The content on this site is general patient education. It is not a diagnosis, not a treatment recommendation, and not a substitute for a consultation with a clinician who has examined you. Burn depth in particular is a judgement made at the bedside: do not use this site to decide that an injury is superficial, and do not use it to decide that it is deep — when in doubt, make the call.
The findings that need immediate care
Blistering, skin that turns white, grey, leathery or black, an area that has lost sensation, skin that does not bleed as it should, pain that keeps worsening after the first day, and a burn covering a joint, the whole face or a large area of the body all require emergency care immediately. Spreading redness, heat, pus, fever or a foul smell from the treated skin requires care the same day.
Pigment and scarring limits
Darkening after a burn usually improves over months with protection from the sun. Areas that turn lighter or white frequently do not recover, and the treatments available for them are limited and partial. A scar can often be improved but not removed, and scar treatment waits until the scar has matured.
When to seek care
Contact your treating team first for anything that is not an emergency; if the team cannot be reached, call the hospital main line. For blistering, blackening or whitening of the skin, loss of sensation, or worsening pain, attend the nearest emergency department immediately. Do not open a blister at home and do not apply a preparation of your own to a burn.