Burns

In Western medicine, a burn is defined as an injury to the skin or organic tissue caused by exposure to extreme heat. Its severity is often categorized into degrees (first through fourth) based on the depth of penetration into the skin's layers (Singer & Dagum, 2008, Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery).

These degrees play a critical role in determining the appropriate therapeutic approach. Burns can originate from various heat sources—thermal, chemical, radiation, or electrical (Maddox et al., 2017, Burns). Another classification involves three zones to indicate the extent of skin damage: the zone of coagulation, the central region with irreversible tissue loss; the zone of stasis, marked by reduced tissue profusion and potential salvageability; and the zone of hyperemia, the outermost area where tissue perfusion increases and recovery is likely (Palmieri & Greenhalgh, 2013, Burns). These classifications guide clinical decision-making and treatment strategies for burn injuries.