The first sign of frostbite is described as blanching, with redness in light-skinned individuals and lightening of the skin in dark-skinned individuals.

• A. Itching and redness.
• B. Blanching and redness in light-skinned people with lightening in dark-skinned people.
• C. Severe pain only.
• D. Immediate tissue death.

Answer: (B)

Early frostbite shows up as blanching of the skin from cold-induced vasoconstriction, which lowers blood flow to the affected area. Because skin tone affects how color changes are seen, light-skinned individuals may display both blanching and redness as circulation responds, while in dark-skinned individuals the change may appear as a lighter patch rather than red. This color change pattern is what the description is capturing: blanching as the first sign, with the way it presents varying by skin color. Recognizing this helps you identify frostbite early and seek appropriate care. Other options don’t reflect the typical first sign—itching and redness aren’t the classic early finding, and frostbite isn’t characterized by pain alone or immediate tissue death.