What would the nurse expect to see in a patient with superficial partial-thickness burns?

In a patient with superficial partial-thickness burns, one can expect to see reddening of the skin as a key characteristic. Superficial partial-thickness burns affect the epidermis and the upper part of the dermis. This layer of skin contains blood vessels, and when damaged, it leads to the visible clinical manifestation of erythema due to vasodilation and increased blood flow in response to injury.

In addition to the reddening of the skin, blisters can also develop as a result of the burn affecting the dermal layer, but noted as the primary expectation in a superficial partial-thickness burn, the reddening is a sign of inflammation and healing potential as well.

The destruction of all skin layers and damage to sebaceous glands typically corresponds to deeper burn types, such as full-thickness burns, which are characterized by complete damage to the epidermis and dermis, while superficial partial-thickness burns remain more superficial and capable of healing with appropriate care. Thus, the expectation of seeing primarily reddened skin aligns well with the understanding of superficial partial-thickness burns.