Which layer of skin is affected by a 3rd degree burn?

A third-degree burn is characterized as a full-thickness burn, which means it affects all layers of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and extends into the subcutaneous tissue beneath. In this type of burn, the skin can be wholly destroyed, resulting in a loss of skin function, and may appear white, charred, or leathery.

Because third-degree burns can damage the nerve endings in the area, they might not be painful at the burn site itself, but pain could still be felt in the surrounding areas where the skin is less severely injured. The presence of damage to the subcutaneous tissue also emphasizes the serious nature of this burn, as it can lead to complications such as infection and require medical intervention for proper healing, which may include skin grafting or other surgical treatments.

The other possible choices are limited to less severe burn types that only involve partial thickness of the skin. Therefore, they do not accurately represent the extent of damage seen in a third-degree burn, confirming that the correct choice truly captures the full scope of a third-degree burn’s impact on skin structures.