Burns are a common injury. Many burns occur in the home when people are cooking or using appliances like fireplaces, toasters, or electric heaters. Although most burns are mild, severe burns are serious injuries that can leave lasting scars and other complications for victims. When most people think of burns, they think of fire. However, there are many types of burns with unique characteristics. Here’s a breakdown of the main ones: Thermal Burns The most common burn injury is a thermal burn, or a burn caused by fire, hot surfaces, or hot liquids. Physicians call burns from hot liquid scalding, and it’s the most common type of burn young children and older adults suffer. Doctors assess the severity of a thermal burn using a degree scale, the size of the burn, and its location on the victim’s body. Superficial burns that only affect the outermost layers of skin are first degree burns. Unless such a burn covers a large area of the body or affects a sensitive area such as the face or genitals, people can treat these burns at home using over-the-counter burn ointment and bandages. Burns that affect the skin’s deeper layers are second degree burns. Doctors will…