What are the signs and symptoms of second degree burns?

Second degree burns are characterized by damage that affects not only the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) but also the underlying layer (dermis). The signs and symptoms typically include the formation of blisters, which are a direct result of the skin's response to injury, as well as redness and swelling. This type of burn is also quite painful due to the exposure of nerve endings in the dermis.

The presence of blisters is crucial in identifying a second degree burn because these blisters form as the body's way of protecting the underlying tissue and fluid loss. The red and painful skin that appears beneath the blisters indicates active inflammation and sensitivity in the area that has been burned. This distinguishing feature—blisters accompanied by redness and significant pain—sets second degree burns apart from first degree and third degree burns.

The other options describe conditions typical of different types of burns or injuries, which lack the defining characteristics of second degree burns. For example, options referring to charred tissue or dry skin without blisters would suggest more severe types of burns.