A patient with superficial skin injury and pain on re-warming likely has which degree of cold injury?

A first-degree cold injury, also known as frostnip, is characterized by superficial skin damage which typically presents with symptoms such as redness, swelling, and pain during the re-warming process. In this case, since the patient is experiencing a superficial skin injury along with pain when warmed, it aligns with the typical presentation of a first-degree cold injury.

This type of injury affects only the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, and does not result in blisters or deep tissue damage, hence the lack of more severe symptoms that would accompany higher degrees of cold injuries.

Higher degrees of cold injury, such as second, third, or fourth degree, involve more serious skin and tissue damage, often including blisters, necrosis, or damage to underlying structures such as muscle and bone, which would not fit the scenario described. Therefore, the patient's symptoms strongly indicate a first-degree cold injury, making it the correct answer.