Which of the following describes a second-degree burn?

A second-degree burn is characterized by damage to both the epidermis and part of the dermis, resulting in symptoms such as redness, swelling, and blistering. A severe sunburn with blistering falls under this classification as it typically affects the second layer of skin, the dermis, causing fluid accumulation in the blisters. This type of burn often presents with significant pain and can take longer to heal compared to a first-degree burn, which only affects the outermost skin layer.

The other choices depict different types of burn injuries. For instance, burns that involve the subcutaneous layer of skin describe a third-degree burn, where all layers of the skin are damaged, often resulting in a dry and leathery appearance without pain due to nerve endings being destroyed. A reddened finger after touching a hot iron is indicative of a first-degree burn, which affects only the outer layer of skin with minimal pain and no blistering. Burns that involve eschar, which is a dry scab or dead tissue that can occur in third-degree burns, highlight a much deeper level of tissue destruction than what is seen in second-degree burns.