Galen Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) 1 Theory Exam 2 Practice

Burn depth is determined by how many skin layers are damaged. When a sunburn affects only the epidermis, the outermost layer is injured while the underlying dermis remains intact. This is characteristic of a first-degree burn. You’ll usually see redness and warmth, with some pain, but no blisters, and it heals over a few days without scarring. Deeper burns involve the dermis or deeper tissues and present with blistering, leathery skin, or damage extending into muscle or bone, which correspond to the higher-degree classifications.