What should you know about an iron burn mark on skin?

Heat can damage the outer skin and, in deeper burns, tissue below it. Redness, tenderness, blistering, peeling, darker colour, lighter colour, or a firm raised area can appear during healing. A mark that burns or stings may also be irritated by products or friction. These features do not identify the depth reliably from a photograph alone.

For a recent injury, cool the area under gently running water and remove nearby jewellery or tight clothing if they are not stuck. Do not apply ice, butter, toothpaste, or harsh antiseptics, and do not burst blisters. Cover a clean superficial burn with a non-stick dressing and keep it protected from sun while it heals. Arrange medical review for a large, deep, blistering, infected, or function-limiting injury. Persistent burning may warrant evaluation for [Burning Skin](/symptoms/skin-burning-sensation/), while redness from another trigger can resemble [Contact Dermatitis](/conditions/contact-dermatitis/) or [Rosacea](/conditions/rosacea/).

Get urgent care if the burn affects the eye, face, hands, genitals, or a major joint; looks white, charred, numb, or leathery; wraps around a limb; or causes severe pain. Seek prompt review for spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, fever, or worsening pain. A stripe of blisters with one-sided pain needs assessment because [Shingles](/conditions/shingles/) can cause a different type of burning rash.

How deep does this burn appear to be? What dressing is suitable? How can I reduce pigment change and scarring? Which symptoms suggest infection or nerve irritation?