Which degree of burn affects the subcutaneous fat?

The degree of burn that affects the subcutaneous fat is the fourth degree burn. This type of burn extends beyond the skin layers - the epidermis and dermis - and penetrates into the underlying tissues, including subcutaneous fat, muscle, and possibly bone. Fourth-degree burns typically involve complete destruction of all skin layers and often result in significant tissue loss and damage.

First-degree burns are superficial and only affect the outer layer of the skin, causing redness and minor pain but not affecting deeper tissues. Second-degree burns involve the epidermis and part of the dermis, leading to blisters and more severe pain, yet they do not reach the subcutaneous fat. Third-degree burns destroy the epidermis and dermis and may extend into deeper tissues, but they do not necessarily harm the subcutaneous fat as severely as fourth-degree burns do.

Thus, recognizing the characteristics and impact of fourth-degree burns on various tissue layers clarifies why this choice is accurate regarding the degree of burn affecting the subcutaneous fat.