Third degree burns
Here you'll find our current definition of the critical illness, additional condition or child specific condition we cover. We've also listed any previous definitions we may have had. With each new definition we've highlighted what's changed from the previous definition.
Current definition
March 2022
Third Degree Burns – covering 20% of the body’s surface area or 20% loss of surface area of the face
Burns that involve damage or destruction of the skin to its full depth through to the underlying tissue and covering at least 20% of the body’s surface area or 20% loss of surface area of the face which for the purpose of this definition includes the forehead and ears.
Changes from the previous definition
We've updated the loss of surface area of the face to 20% from 50%.
Previous definitions
November 2015
Third degree burns – covering 20% of the body’s surface area or 50% loss of surface area of the face
Burns that involve damage or destruction of the skin to its full depth through to the underlying tissue and covering at least 20% of the body’s surface area or 50% loss of surface area of the face which for the purpose of this definition includes the forehead and ears.