Generally, most first degree burns can be painful but are not life threatening, although some can be dangerous depending on the size of the burn and age of patient. The size of the burn is worked out as a percentage of the ‘total body surface area’ (called ‘TBSA’ by burn specialists). As a rough guide, your palm and fingers are about 1% of your body surface area. In adults the head is about 9%, arms 9% each, legs 18%, back 18% and chest/abdomen 18%. The reason for being concerned about the size of the burn is that the higher the percentage of burn, the more serious it may be. Intravenous fluids (through a ‘drip’) might be need for larger first degree burns.
Additionally, as the skin can be damaged in a first degree burn, bacteria can now enter into the skin and from there into the bloodstream – this can cause redness, swelling and infection of the burn, or septicaemia and life-threatening illness (known as toxic shock syndrome) if it progresses.