West Virginia Barber Practice Exam

The presence of a cut along with redness and swelling is a clear indication of a potential infection. When tissue becomes injured, the body responds with inflammation, which commonly presents as redness and swelling at the injury site. Redness occurs due to increased blood flow to the area, as the immune system sends cells to fight any potential pathogens. Swelling results from the accumulation of fluids and immune cells. If there is also pain or warmth accompanying these symptoms, it further supports the likelihood of an infection.

Moist skin and itching can often result from various conditions, including allergies or skin irritations, but they are not definitive signs of infection. Popular hairstyles are irrelevant to the assessment of infection, as they pertain to aesthetic choices rather than health indicators. Thus, the combination of a cut with redness and swelling is the most reliable sign of infection among the provided options.