A liquid burn, also known as a scald, is a skin injury caused by exposure to hot liquid or steam, leading to tissue damage from the heat. Symptoms range from redness, swelling, and pain in superficial burns to blistering and potential numbness in more severe full-thickness burns. The severity depends on the liquid's temperature, duration of contact, and the skin's involvement, with classification often based on skin layers affected, from the outer epidermis to the deeper dermis and subcutaneous tissue.