How do slough and eschar differ?

• A. Slough is yellow, dead tissue; eschar is black/brown necrotic tissue
• B. Slough is red tissue; eschar is white tissue
• C. Slough is white tissue; eschar is red tissue
• D. Slough is black tissue; eschar is yellow tissue

Answer: (A)

In wound assessment, recognizing the state of non-viable tissue comes down to color and texture. Slough is typically moist and yellow, representing dead tissue mixed with exudate that’s hanging onto the wound bed. Eschar, by contrast, is dry, leathery, and often dark—black or brown—reflecting dried necrotic tissue that has become firmly attached to the wound.

That contrast is what the correct statement conveys: slough as yellow, dead tissue and eschar as black/brown necrotic tissue. The other descriptions don’t match the common appearances: red or white tissue suggests different tissue types (such as granulation or healthier tissue), and the combinations given for slough and eschar don’t fit their usual moist-yellow versus dry-dark characteristics.