Stage II pressure ulcers are described as what type of skin loss?

• A. Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis or dermis
• B. Full-thickness skin loss involving muscle
• C. Full-thickness skin loss exposing bone
• D. Slough with dead tissue only

Answer: (A)

Stage II pressure ulcers involve partial-thickness skin loss, affecting the epidermis and possibly the dermis. This produces a shallow, open ulcer or a blister that is pink/red and moist. Because only the superficial layers are damaged, there is no exposure of muscle, bone, or deeper tissues—those would be full-thickness losses. If necrotic tissue or slough covers the wound, the injury isn’t Stage II and is typically described as unstageable or, depending on tissue depth, a deeper category. So the correct description is partial-thickness skin loss involving the epidermis or dermis.