Scar contracture – if a deep second degree burn heals on its own and forms scars across a joint (for example the elbow), then as the scar matures it may contract (shrink). This may lead to an inability to fully move the joint, and so surgery may be needed to release the scar.
Slow healing – deeper second degree burns can take many weeks to heal on their own, and so burns specialists may use a skin graft to help healing. Occasionally a burn can heal up but with a thin, unstable scar – this can easily break down again and again, so surgery may be needed to try to get the area to heal fully.
Disfigurement – deeper burns, whether operated on or not, can leave scars that are very noticeable to you or to others. This is especially so when the burns are to the face. Whilst scarring can be improved by surgery or other means, there is unfortunately no way to completely remove them. The recent advances made in face transplant surgery may, however, provide hope for those with the most severe types of facial burn injuries.
Skin colour changes – whilst second degree burns usually heal with no noticeable skin changes, they can occasionally leave an area of pigment changes. This is usually in the form of a paler patch of skin, which can be permanent (known as hypopigmentation), but can also be a darker patch (hyperpigmentation)