Some common burn patterns and common areas for burns that result from abuse include:

• Circular burns that are the size and shape of the end of a cigarette or cigar.
• Burns on the bottom of the feet.
• Burns that look like gloves (on the hands), socks (on the feet), or a large circle on the buttocks. These come from putting someone's hands, feet, or buttocks in a sink or tub of scalding-hot water.

With burns caused by abuse, the explanation for the burn may not match the size, shape, or location of the burn. But it still can be hard to tell whether a burn was caused on purpose. A burn caused by throwing hot liquid on someone may look just like a burn caused by an accidental spill.