A burn affecting only the epidermis is classified as which degree?

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Burn depth is determined by how many layers of skin are damaged. When only the outermost layer, the epidermis, is affected, that is a first-degree burn. This is a superficial burn—think sunburn: skin looks red and feels tender and painful, but it typically does not blister. Because the deeper layers are spared, healing is usually quick, within about a week, with little to no scarring. If the injury also reaches the dermis, blisters form and it becomes a second-degree burn, which is more painful and takes longer to heal. If the damage goes through the full thickness of the skin, it’s a third-degree burn, often with a white or charred appearance and may not be painful due to nerve destruction. A fourth-degree burn extends into muscle or bone. So, affecting only the epidermis corresponds to a first-degree burn.