Which statement correctly differentiates frostbite from frostnip?

• A. Frostbite involves tissue freezing; frostnip involves reversible freezing of superficial skin.
• B. Frostnip involves deep tissue freezing; Frostbite involves surface freezing.
• C. Frostbite is heat-related; Frostnip is cold-related.
• D. Frostbite affects nerves only; Frostnip affects skin.

Answer: (A)

Understanding the difference between these cold injuries comes down to how deep the damage goes and whether it can be reversed. Frostnip only affects the surface of the skin and does not involve actual freezing of deeper tissues, so it’s reversible with warming and careful protection. In contrast, frostbite means the tissue itself freezes, which can cause cell injury or death and may involve deeper structures like nerves and blood vessels, potentially leading to lasting damage.

That’s why the statement is best: frostbite involves tissue freezing, while frostnip involves superficial skin changes that are reversible with warming. The other options mix up depth of involvement, confuse heat with cold injury, or imply that frostbite affects only nerves or frostnip only the skin, which isn’t accurate.