Abrasions are best described as

• A. Occurs when the outer skin is scraped away; bleeding is usually oozing; treat by cleaning, debris removal, antibacterial ointment, and dressing.
• B. Injury where tissue is torn loose.
• C. A closed wound.
• D. A burn.

Answer: (D)

An abrasion is a superficial skin injury where the outer layer (the epidermis) is scraped off by friction. Because only the surface is affected, it’s an open wound that often oozes small amounts of blood and may have surface dirt or debris. Treat it by gently cleaning the area to remove debris, applying antibacterial ointment if appropriate, and covering with a clean dressing to protect it and reduce infection risk. Abrasions are not deeper tissue tears, burns, or closed wounds; the defining feature is the surface-level skin scraping rather than damage to deeper tissues or intact skin.