Which description best matches a third-degree burn?

• A. Painless, charred leathery skin.
• B. Painful with swelling.
• C. Painless, charring, dry and leathery skin.
• D. Red, blistered skin.

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is how burn depth changes appearance and sensation. A third-degree burn goes through all layers of the skin, destroying both the epidermis and dermis (and often deeper tissues). Because the nerve endings are damaged, the burned area itself is typically painless. The skin that remains is dry and stiff, described as leathery, and may appear charred, white, brown, or black due to the dead tissue (eschar). This combination—no pain in the burned area, plus a dry, leathery, and often charred appearance—best matches the description of a full-thickness burn.

The other descriptions fit shallower burns better: red, blistered skin points to superficial or deep partial-thickness burns, which are usually painful and moist due to intact nerve endings and fluid-filled blisters; a description of painless with swelling could occur in some deep burns but would not emphasize the dry, leathery, charred skin that characterizes full-thickness injury.