Which type of burn affects only the outer layer of skin?

Which type of burn affects only the outer layer of skin?

• A. Partial-thickness burn.
• B. Superficial burn.
• C. Full-thickness burn.
• D. Second-degree burn.

Answer: (B)

A superficial burn is characterized by affecting only the outer layer of the skin, also known as the epidermis. This type of burn typically results from sunburns or brief contact with hot objects. The symptoms include redness, minor pain, and swelling, but there is usually no blistering and the burn heals without scarring, often within a few days. This understanding differentiates it from partial-thickness burns, which involve deeper layers of the skin and can lead to blistering and more significant pain, and from full-thickness burns, which extend through all layers of the skin and often require medical intervention due to the severity of tissue damage. Second-degree burns encompass damage that goes beyond the outer layer, affecting both the epidermis and part of the dermis, resulting in pain and blistering. Thus, the defining characteristics of a superficial burn make it the correct choice for this question.

A superficial burn is characterized by affecting only the outer layer of the skin, also known as the epidermis. This type of burn typically results from sunburns or brief contact with hot objects. The symptoms include redness, minor pain, and swelling, but there is usually no blistering and the burn heals without scarring, often within a few days.

This understanding differentiates it from partial-thickness burns, which involve deeper layers of the skin and can lead to blistering and more significant pain, and from full-thickness burns, which extend through all layers of the skin and often require medical intervention due to the severity of tissue damage. Second-degree burns encompass damage that goes beyond the outer layer, affecting both the epidermis and part of the dermis, resulting in pain and blistering. Thus, the defining characteristics of a superficial burn make it the correct choice for this question.