Which condition presents with pale, cold skin and loss of sensation in the affected area but tissue is not yet frozen?

• A. Frostbite
• B. Frostnip
• C. Hypothermia
• D. Trench foot

Answer: (B)

Recognizing early cold injuries. This description—pale, cold skin with loss of sensation but tissue not yet frozen—fits frostnip. It’s a superficial, nonfreezing stage of cold injury where blood flow is reduced and the skin feels numb, but the tissue remains viable and there’s no hard, frozen tissue.

Frostbite would involve actual freezing of the tissue, with skin that can feel hard or waxy and may blister after thawing. Hypothermia is a systemic drop in core body temperature, not just a localized skin finding. Trench foot comes from prolonged exposure to cold, damp conditions and presents with numbness and pale skin too, but it results from longer, moisture-heavy exposure rather than the early, nonfreezing stage of cold injury.

Treatment focus for frostnip is gentle warming of the area (body heat or warm water around 104°F/40°C), keeping it dry, and avoiding rubbing or applying direct heat, while removing the person from the cold to prevent progression.