Which statement describes a third-degree burn?

• A. Involves epidermis only
• B. Involves epidermis and dermis with blisters
• C. Destroys the entire thickness of the skin
• D. Heals quickly with minimal scarring

Answer: (C)

Third-degree burns are full-thickness injuries, meaning the entire thickness of the skin—the epidermis and all of the dermis—are destroyed and may extend into deeper tissues. This type of burn often looks leathery or charred and can be white, brown, or black. Because the nerve endings are destroyed, it is usually painless in the burned area, and healing does not occur without surgical intervention, such as grafting, leading to significant scarring and functional loss if untreated.

This statement fits because it specifically describes destruction of the entire skin thickness, which defines a third-degree burn. The other descriptions correspond to less extensive burns: involving only the epidermis is a first-degree burn; involving epidermis and dermis with blisters is a second-degree burn; and healing quickly with minimal scarring does not describe a third-degree injury.