Final answer:
A full-thickness burn affects every layer of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and potentially the underlying tissues, and requires medical intervention for healing.
Step-by-step explanation:
A full-thickness burn affects every layer of the skin, which includes the epidermis, dermis, and sometimes even the underlying tissues like fat, muscle, or bone. These burns are often classified as third-degree or fourth-degree burns.
Third-degree burns destroy both the epidermis and dermis, affecting the nerve endings and sensory function, and appear white, red, or black. Fourth-degree burns extend even deeper, damaging underlying muscle and bone, and are often painless due to the destruction of nerve endings.
Full-thickness burns cannot heal by themselves and require medical interventions such as excision (debridement), or possibly amputation in severe cases, followed by skin grafting from an unaffected area or from skin grown in tissue culture.