When it comes to the necessity of seeking treatment for burns, it is generally accepted that it is not necessary to be treated for first degree burns as natural home remedies will usually be more than enough to deal with the problem.
However, the situation with second and particularly third degree burns will often be very different, although again, there are differences to take into consideration. For example, whilst it may not always be necessary to seek treatment for second degree burns, the risk of permanent scarring could possibly be minimized by seeking medical treatment for burns of this nature.
The first thing to look for is whether the burn exhibits the characteristics of third degree or a full thickness burn. For example, if the burned area is white or charred, has a leather-like consistency or is dry and relatively painless, then it is likely that you have a third-degree burn that needs medical attention.
Remember also that minor burns can mature into more serious injuries as well, so it cannot be assumed that a minor burn is not going to become a major problem. You should therefore keep a constant watch on any burn injury that you sustain so that you can ascertain whether the injury ultimately becomes one that needs medical attention, even if it did not merit it at the beginning.
Even if the burn is clearly more of second degree injury as opposed to the more serious kind, the size of the wound is relevant to whether it is necessary to seek attention. In this scenario, most medical experts would recommend that if the burn covers an area that is more than twice the size of your palm, you should report the injury to your doctor.
Furthermore, irrespective of the size of the wound, if you suffer a second degree burn on your face, ears, near eyes, on your hands, feet or genitals, you should get the injury assessed by a medical attention. The same rule applies if the burned area is on a major joint as well, regardless of the size of the injured area.
Finally, it is an unfortunate fact that all burns are painful, irrespective of the degree or size of the injury. As suggested previously, it is very unusual to need to seek medical attention for first degree burns, but if the pain caused by it becomes unbearable, you might choose to seek medical attention to get something to deal with the pain.
