Which is a sign of skin breakdown to monitor?

• A. Slight warmth that blanches with touch
• B. Red or discolored areas that do not blanch
• C. Regular moles on skin
• D. Healthy pink skin after pressure

Answer: (B)

Non-blanchable redness signals skin breakdown. When you press a red or discolored patch and it does not fade or turn white, the capillaries are not returning to normal color, indicating compromised tissue and potential early pressure injury. This persistence shows perfusion problems at a spot where the skin is at risk. In contrast, slight warmth that blanches with touch suggests normal perfusion and no active tissue damage, regular moles are unrelated to pressure injury, and healthy pink skin after pressure indicates good skin integrity. So watch for areas of redness that do not blanch as the sign to monitor.