Which type of burn is characterized by affecting all layers of skin and may feature charring?

A full-thickness burn is characterized by affecting all layers of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. This type of burn often results in significant damage, leading to symptoms such as charring, as it destroys the skin's structure and can affect underlying tissues. The severity of a full-thickness burn often necessitates specialized medical intervention, and healing is typically prolonged, often requiring grafting procedures.

In contrast, first-degree burns only affect the outermost layer of the skin, resulting in redness and pain without charring. Second-degree burns extend into the dermis, causing blisters and severe pain, but they do not involve complete loss of skin layers or charring. Partial-thickness burns, while they can be quite severe, still do not penetrate through all skin layers, which distinguishes them from full-thickness burns. These distinctions help to clarify the critical features that define each burn type.