Everyone has probably fallen foul of it at some point in their life, but people are now being urged to check their shower temperature isn't too hot before getting in as part of a new awareness campaign.
Hot Water Burns Like Fire is an initiative that has been launched in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and the Children's Burns Trust, with the aim of limiting the amount of injuries that consumers experience as a result of scalding.
According to the CIPHE, approximately 40,000 children are admitted to casualty every year as a result of water-related burns, while 11,500 adults are hospitalised. Of these instances, 75 per cent end up being treated in burns and plastic surgery departments.
Despite the fact that 90 per cent of these injuries are classed as being avoidable, the organisation says little is being done to address the problem, with the statistics failing to significantly improve over the last 20 years.
CIPHE operations manager Danny Davis said young children and the elderly were the most at-risk demographics, with youngsters in particular needing far less time being exposed to hot water for them to experience serious injury.
It can take just one second for children who come into contact with water above the temperature of 60 degrees celsius to suffer third degree burns.
"Many scalding injuries could be avoided by the use of thermostatic mixing valves. When you think of the trauma caused by scalding in the home, it makes sense to do everything you can to prevent it happening," Mr Davis added.
Much of the focus of the campaign will take place on October 22nd - National Burn Awareness Day - which is hoping to educate the public on the best way to treat such injuries and how to limit such situations occurring.