Whiting or blanching of the skin is a symptom of?

• A. Frost bite
• B. Hypothermia
• C. Frost nip
• D. Heat exhaustion

Answer: (C)

Whiting or blanching of the skin signals frost nip, the mildest form of cold injury. It happens after brief exposure to freezing temperatures or cold wind, causing the surface skin to turn pale or white and feel numb or tingling. Because it only affects the outer layers, there’s usually no permanent damage if you rewarm the area promptly.

Frostbite would involve actual freezing of tissue and typically presents with hard, pale or waxy skin and possible blistering, indicating deeper damage. Hypothermia is a whole-body cooling condition with signs like confusion, shivering, and lethargy rather than localized skin blanching. Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness with symptoms such as heavy sweating, weakness, and dizziness, not a pale, numb skin blanching.

So the blanching described aligns with frost nip. Rewarm the area gently, remove it from further cold exposure, and avoid rubbing. If numbness or color changes persist or worsen, seek medical care.