What color is characteristic of a first degree burn?

A first degree burn is characterized by redness of the skin, which is a result of the superficial damage to the epidermis. This type of burn affects only the outer layer of skin and typically presents with erythema (redness) and mild pain, often with no blisters. The red appearance occurs due to increased blood flow to the area as the body responds to the injury, leading to the hallmark symptoms of inflammation.

In a first degree burn, the skin may also be dry, and there might be some swelling, but the breakdown of the skin layers does not occur, differentiating it from more severe burns which do present further complications and different colorations. The other color options represent different types or severities of skin injury — pale might indicate underlying issues such as shock or vasoconstriction, white suggests a deeper layer of damage or possible necrosis, and brown could indicate a second or third degree burn with skin charring. Thus, the characteristic red color of a first degree burn accurately reflects the nature and severity of the injury.