Which of the following is a sign of a third-degree burn?

A third-degree burn is characterized by severe damage to all layers of the skin, often affecting deeper tissues as well. The appearance of the skin is a crucial indicator of this type of burn. In the case of a third-degree burn, the skin typically becomes white, charred, or leathery in texture.

One of the defining characteristics of third-degree burns is that they can destroy nerve endings. As a result, the affected area may not be painful because the nerves responsible for sensation have been damaged. The combination of charred or white skin with the absence of pain clearly signifies the severity of the burn and helps differentiate it from other degrees of burns, which generally involve more pain and redness.

In contrast, blisters, severe pain, redness, and swelling are characteristics typically associated with first-degree and second-degree burns, where the skin is less severely damaged, and nerve endings are intact. Thus, the signs of a third-degree burn are distinct and rely significantly on the visual aspects of the burn and the patient's sensation.