Pale, cool, and blue-tinged skin indicates what underlying issue?

Pale, cool, and blue-tinged skin, also known as cyanosis, typically indicates inadequate oxygenation of the blood. This condition often arises when there are not enough circulating red blood cells or when the red blood cells are unable to carry sufficient amounts of oxygen due to various health issues.

When there are insufficient red blood cells, the body struggles to deliver oxygen, leading to a lack of oxygen in the tissues, which manifests as the described changes in skin color. This deficiency can be due to various reasons including anemia or significant blood loss.

The other choices relate to different health parameters that do not directly create the same physical indication of oxygen deficiency seen with issues concerning red blood cells. High blood pressure and high lipoprotein levels generally do not present with skin color changes, while insufficient white blood cells pertain more to the immune response rather than oxygen transport. Therefore, the symptoms described in the question align specifically with the issue of having not enough circulating red blood cells.