What does a 2nd degree burn primarily involve?

A second-degree burn primarily involves pain and blisters, which are clear indicators of damage to both the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and parts of the underlying layer (dermis). These burns are characterized by their painful sensations, which result from damage to nerve endings within the skin, and the formation of blisters occurs as a protective response. The blisters serve to protect the underlying tissue from infection and further injury, while also indicating the severity of the burn.

In contrast, mild redness without pain or blisters typically represents a first-degree burn. Skin peeling often occurs as a part of the healing process after a second-degree burn but is not a defining feature. Complete skin loss is associated with third-degree burns, which extend into deeper tissues and can cause significant damage beyond just the upper layers of skin. This level of burn may require medical intervention such as skin grafts or surgery, differentiating it starkly from the characteristics of a second-degree burn.