What it means
The deepest kind of skin burn, once called a third-degree burn. The skin's nerve endings, blood vessels, hair roots and glands are destroyed, so the area cannot heal from its own edges unless it is very small. The burned skin may look white, leathery, brown or black, and the center often has little or no pain because the nerves are gone. Most need surgery and skin grafts.
For the nurse
Large burns cause major fluid loss, so watch urine output, vital signs and fluid replacement closely. Protect against infection, manage pain (burns around the deep area still hurt) and watch circulation in limbs with burns all the way around them.
At a glance
| Also written | full-thickness burns, full thickness burn, third-degree burn, third-degree burns |
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Related terms
necrosis
The death of cells or tissue in a part of the body.