What skin change is typical in hemorrhagic shock?

In hemorrhagic shock, the body experiences a significant drop in blood volume, which leads to reduced perfusion to the skin and other organs. This reduction in blood flow typically results in cool and clammy skin. The body's natural response to shock involves vasoconstriction, which is the narrowing of blood vessels that helps to redirect blood towards vital organs, like the heart and brain, and away from the skin. This can give the skin a cool temperature due to the decreased blood flow.

Additionally, the increased sympathetic nervous system activity during shock can lead to sweating, contributing to the clammy feel of the skin. Therefore, the presence of cool and clammy skin is a hallmark sign of hemorrhagic shock and reflects the body's attempt to compensate for the blood loss.