Which burn depth is full thickness, appearing white or charred and often painless?

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Multiple Choice

Which burn depth is full thickness, appearing white or charred and often painless?

Burn depth is judged by how many skin layers are damaged and how that affects sensation. A full-thickness burn destroys the entire dermis (and possibly deeper tissues), so the skin often appears white, gray, or charred and feels numb because the nerve endings are destroyed. That combination—a pale or charred look with little to no pain—fits the description of a full-thickness burn. In contrast, red and painful burns involve only the epidermis or upper dermis, and burns with blisters indicate partial-thickness injury that preserves some nerves. So the appearance and loss of sensation here point to a full-thickness burn.

Burn depth is judged by how many skin layers are damaged and how that affects sensation. A full-thickness burn destroys the entire dermis (and possibly deeper tissues), so the skin often appears white, gray, or charred and feels numb because the nerve endings are destroyed. That combination—a pale or charred look with little to no pain—fits the description of a full-thickness burn. In contrast, red and painful burns involve only the epidermis or upper dermis, and burns with blisters indicate partial-thickness injury that preserves some nerves. So the appearance and loss of sensation here point to a full-thickness burn.

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