Which statement best describes a partial thickness burn?

• A. Epidermal damage only; red and painful; no blisters
• B. Epidermal and partial dermal injury; painful, blisters present
• C. Involves subcutaneous tissue; painless
• D. Only dermal involvement

Answer: (B)

Partial thickness burns affect both the epidermis and part of the dermis, which is why they’re typically very painful and form blisters. The description that includes epidermal damage plus partial dermal injury, with pain and blisters present, matches this depth most accurately.

Burns limited to the epidermis are superficial first-degree burns: they’re red and painful but do not blister. Burns that go deeper, into subcutaneous tissues, are full-thickness and often numb due to nerve destruction. The idea of involvement limited only to the dermis isn’t a standard depth category, since partial thickness inherently involves the epidermis as well. So the statement describing epidermal plus partial dermal injury with pain and blisters best describes a partial thickness burn.