Texas Esthetician License Practice Exam

What type of burn affects all layers of the skin and causes blistering, swelling, and scarring?

1. First degree

2. Second degree

3. Third degree

4. Fourth degree

The correct answer is: Third degree

A third-degree burn, which is the correct answer, affects all layers of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. This type of burn is characterized by a loss of the skin's protective layers, leading to exposure of underlying tissues. As a result, it typically causes significant damage, including blistering, swelling, and scarring. In third-degree burns, the affected area can appear white, charred, or leathery, and the individual may not feel pain in the burned area immediately due to nerve damage. This level of injury often requires medical intervention and can result in long-term scarring and changes in skin texture, necessitating possible skin grafting. The other types of burns differ in severity and depth. First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and cause redness and minor pain without blistering. Second-degree burns extend into the dermis and cause blistering and more significant pain but do not damage all layers of skin. Fourth-degree burns are the most severe, extending beyond the skin into underlying tissues such as muscle or bone, which are not part of the question.