What type of burn is classified as a serious injury where all three layers of skin are burned away?

A burn classified as a serious injury where all three layers of skin—epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue—are burned away is known as a third-degree burn. Third-degree burns are severe because they not only affect the outer layer of skin but also damage deeper tissues, which can result in loss of sensation in the area due to destruction of nerve endings. These burns often appear white, charred, or leathery and require extensive medical treatment, including possible skin grafts.

In contrast, first-degree burns involve only the outer layer of skin and typically result in redness and mild swelling, while second-degree burns reach into the dermis and can cause blisters and more intense pain but do not destroy all skin layers. A thermal burn, meanwhile, is a type of burn caused specifically by heat sources, and while it can be classified as first, second, or third degree, it does not specify the severity related to skin layers. Thus, the classification of third-degree burns accurately describes the most severe injury involving all layers of skin being affected.