I have recently started playing this game. I have 2 toons. One is a miner and the other a hauler.
While doing my missions the 2nd bad event i experienced in both the toons reported damage to the vessel 38 hull damage but there was no change in the hull and armour readings on top. Even when I visit a repair facility they cannot find the damage.
Cheers
Damage in PT will work its way through the layers.
It will attack shield first, then armour, then hull. Assuming you have a shield fitted (I am sure you will) then the 38 damage would have been absorbed by your shield. This damage will show on the shield stat (top left icon) but your shield will recharge quite quickly, so unless you look at the time the damage occurs, you will likely not spot the damage.
HTH 