Second-degree burns are best described as:

• A. Burns that involve damage to both the epidermis and the upper dermis; characterized by blisters.
• B. Burns that involve only the epidermis with mild redness.
• C. Burns that destroy the entire thickness of the skin.
• D. Burns that heal without blistering.

Answer: (A)

Second-degree burns are partial-thickness injuries that reach into the upper part of the dermis while leaving deeper skin intact. This level of depth causes separation between epidermal and dermal layers, which leads to fluid accumulating as blisters. The skin is typically very red, painful, and moist, and healing usually takes about two to three weeks with proper care, though there is a risk of infection and scarring.

That’s why the description of damage to both the epidermis and the upper dermis with blister formation best matches second-degree burns. Burns limited to the epidermis are first-degree, which are red and painful but do not blister. Burns that destroy the full thickness of the skin are third-degree. Burns that heal without blistering would not fit the characteristic blistering of a second-degree injury.