Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which layers of skin are damaged by a second-degree burn?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Cross-section diagram of human skin showing burn depth by degree, with arrows indicating that first-degree burns affect only the epidermis, second-degree burns reach the dermis, third-degree burns extend into subcutaneous tissue, and fourth-degree burns penetrate to muscle. — burn This diagram shows how burn injuries are classified by severity. First-degree burns damage the outer skin, known as the epidermis. First-degree burns are the least severe form of burn injury. Second-degree burns damage the outer skin and some of the underlying skin, known as the dermis, which also includes some connective tissue. Third-degree burns damage all the layers of skin, including subcutaneous tissue. Fourth-degree burns, which are the most severe, destroy every layer of skin and also damage muscle, tendons, and bones.

A second-degree burn damages the entire epidermis and a portion of the dermis.1

These injuries are characterized by redness and the formation of blisters, which tend to increase in size shortly after the injury occurs. While they can be extremely painful, most superficial second-degree burns heal within 10 to 14 days without significant scarring, provided they do not become infected.1