 The characteristics of a burn depend upon its depth . <unk> burns cause pain lasting two or three days , followed by <unk> of the skin over the next few days . Individuals suffering from more severe burns may indicate discomfort or complain of feeling pressure rather than pain . Full @-@ thickness burns may be entirely insensitive to light touch or puncture . While superficial burns are typically red in color , severe burns may be pink , white or black . Burns around the mouth or <unk> hair inside the nose may indicate that burns to the <unk> have occurred , but these findings are not definitive . More worrisome signs include : shortness of breath , <unk> , and <unk> or <unk> . <unk> is common during the healing process , occurring in up to 90 % of adults and nearly all children . <unk> or <unk> may persist for a prolonged period of time after an electrical injury . Burns may also produce emotional and psychological distress . 
