What is a third degree burn?
A person with a third degree burn has burned all the layers of the skin, as well as the fatty tissue beneath the skin. Usually, a third degree burn is painless because the nerves in the skin have been destroyed. Fourth degree burns cause damage to the muscle, bone or other deep structures. A third degree burn can be caused by exposure to heat, chemicals, electricity or radiation.

What are the symptoms of a third degree burn?
Symptoms of a third degree burn include white or charred skin. The burned area is not painful. However, second degree burns may surround the third degree burn. Symptoms of second degree burns include pain, skin redness, and skin blisters.

How does the doctor treat a third degree burn?
Treatment for a third degree burn includes intensive care in a burn unit. Antibiotic creams are applied to burned skin, in order to reduce the risk of infection. Additional treatment for third degree burns includes surgical removal of destroyed skin, and the application of skin grafts or synthetic grafts.