A characteristic of third-degree burns is:

The characteristic that signifies third-degree burns is the absence of pain due to nerve destruction. In third-degree burns, also known as full-thickness burns, the damage extends beyond the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and the underlying layer (dermis) into the deeper tissues. This extensive damage often results in the destruction of nerve endings in the affected areas, leading to a lack of sensation and pain.

Persons with third-degree burns may not feel pain in the burned area, which can lead to a dangerous oversight in assessing injury severity. While redness and swelling are associated with milder burns (first and second-degree), they are not features of third-degree burns. Charring, which might occur in the most severe cases of third-degree burns, can be an indicator of the extent of damage, but it is the nerve destruction that critically defines this type of burn injury in terms of pain sensation.