Final answer:
Full thickness burns (third-degree) damage both the epidermis and dermis, affecting tissue and nerve endings. They may appear white, red, or black, and lack superficial pain due to nerve damage. They require medical treatment and cannot heal on their own.
Step-by-step explanation:
Full thickness burns, also known as third-degree burns, involve damage to both the outer layer (epidermis) and the underlying layer (dermis) of skin. This type of burn destroys the tissue, affects the nerve endings, and impacts sensory function. Such burns may appear white, red, or black, and typically do not cause superficial pain because the nerve endings are damaged. Unlike first-degree burns, which only affect the epidermis, or second-degree burns, which extend into a portion of the dermis and cause swelling and blistering, third-degree burns require medical attention and cannot heal on their own. Treatment often involves the excision or amputation of the damaged tissue, followed by skin grafting.