What type of injury is considered a friction burn?

A friction burn is classified as an abrasion because it occurs when the skin is scraped off due to friction against a rough surface. This type of injury typically involves the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) being damaged, which results in pain, redness, and sometimes weeping of fluids. Abrasions can vary in severity, but they generally do not penetrate deeply into the skin compared to other types of injuries.

In contrast, other options represent different forms of injuries: a contusion involves bruising and damage to underlying blood vessels without breaking the skin; an avulsion refers to a portion of skin or tissue being torn away completely; and a puncture injury occurs when a sharp object penetrates the skin, creating a small wound. Understanding these distinctions highlights why abrasions, such as friction burns, are categorized separately based on the mechanism and degree of skin damage involved.