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May 5, 2022 · Frostbite can look like anything from a rash to skin literally breaking apart. These pictures provide a way to recognize frostbite.
- Overview
- Normal skin and response to cold
- Frostnip: first-degree frostbite
- Superficial frostbite: second-degree frostbite
- Deep frostbite: third-degree frostbite
- Takeaway and prevention
What is frostbite?
Frostbite is a type of injury that can occur when your skin’s exposed to the cold. Cold exposure can cause the top layer of your skin and some of the tissues beneath it to freeze.
Frostbite is most common in your extremities, such as your fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
In many cases, your skin can recover from frostbite. However, in severe cases, tissue death or loss can occur.
Your skin is your largest organ and consists of several distinct layers. It protects you and also allows you to perceive sensations from your environment through your sense of touch.
Blood vessels can be found throughout your body, including in your skin. They work to carry blood to the various tissues of your body in order to keep them healthy.
When you’re in the cold, your blood vessels constrict, becoming narrower to divert the flow of blood away from extremities such as your fingers and toes. This helps to maintain your core body temperature. Over time, the lack of blood flow to these areas can cause damage to your skin and nearby tissues.
Your risk for frostbite increases if:
•you’re exposed to cold temperatures for long periods of time
•cold temperatures are accompanied by wind
Frostnip is the first stage of frostbite. It’s very mild and doesn’t damage your skin.
When you have frostnip, your skin will turn red and feel cold to the touch. If you stay in the cold, it may begin to feel numb or have a prickling sensation.
Frostnip can be treated with simple first aid measures that include preventing further exposure to cold and rewarming.
Rewarming can be accomplished by soaking the affected area in warm (not hot) water for 15 to 30 minutes. Rewarming using heat sources such as stoves or heating pads should be avoided, as these can lead to burns.
During this stage of frostbite, your skin will begin to turn from a reddish color to a paler color. In some cases, it may appear blue.
Ice crystals may begin to form in your skin. As such, the affected area of your skin may have a hard or frozen feeling when you touch it.
Your skin may also begin to feel warm at this stage and you may observe some swelling. This is a sign that damage to your skin tissue is beginning to occur. The tissues below your skin are still intact, but prompt medical treatment is required to prevent further damage.
Rewarming should occur as soon as possible. Your doctor will give you pain medication to help with the pain that occurs with rewarming. After rewarming, they’ll wrap the injured area in order to protect it. Intravenous (IV) fluids may also be given to keep you hydrated.
Following rewarming, fluid-filled blisters may develop in the affected area. Your skin may appear to be blue or purple. You may also observe swelling and feel a burning or stinging sensation.
If you have blisters, your doctor may drain them. If any blisters appear infected, you’ll also be prescribed a course of antibiotics to treat the infection.
Deep frostbite is the most severe stage of frostbite and affects both your skin and the tissues that lie below.
If you’re experiencing deep frostbite, the skin of the area may have a blue or splotchy look to it. It may feel numb to sensations such as cold or pain. Muscles close to the affected area may not work properly. Blood-filled blisters may also develop in people with deep frostbite.
Deep frostbite requires immediate medical attention. Like the treatment for superficial frostbite, your doctor will rewarm the area. They’ll give you pain medication, wrap the area, and may provide IV fluids.
If you have deep frostbite, you may also receive a type of medication called a “clot-buster.” Very severe cases of frostbite can lead to development of blood clots. This type of medication may help to improve blood flow to the injured area.
Following rewarming, the area will appear black and feel hard. This is due to tissue death in the affected area. Large blisters may also develop.
Your doctor may wait for several weeks after your frostbite injury in order to determine the full extent of the damage. In some cases, a procedure or surgery may be required to remove the dead tissue. For example, a toe that’s been severely damaged by deep frostbite may need to be amputated.
Frostbite happens when your skin and underlying tissues are damaged through exposure to cold.
Frostbite has several stages. Some, such as frostnip, don’t cause permanent skin damage and can be treated with basic first aid. Others, such as superficial frostbite and deep frostbite, require prompt medical attention to avoid permanent damage.
Be sure to follow the tips below to prevent frostbite:
•Be aware of the weather forecast. Avoid spending extended periods of time in cold weather as well as coming into direct contact with metal surfaces or water while out in the cold.
•Dress appropriately for cold weather. Wear things like mittens or gloves, hats that cover your ears, scarves, sunglasses, or ski masks. Outer garments should be waterproof and windproof.
•Change out of wet clothes as soon as you can.
Stages of frostbite. Skin without cold damage (1) has no change in color or texture. Frostnip (2) is the early stage of frostbite. It causes a slight change in skin color and a cold feeling followed by numbness.
Your skin will become cold, numb and white, and you may feel a tingling sensation. This stage of frostbite is known as frostnip, and it often affects people who live or work in cold climates. The extremities, such as the fingers, nose, ears and toes, are most commonly affected.
Signs and symptoms of frostbite include diminished feeling and change in color of the extremities including fingers, toes, tip of the nose, face, and earlobes. Frostbitten areas tend to look pale or white. Your body works to stay alive first and to stay functioning second.
Frostbite is damage to skin and tissue caused by exposure to freezing temperatures – typically any temperature below -0.55C (31F). Frostbite can affect any part of your body, but the extremities, such as the hands, feet, ears, nose and lips, are most likely to be affected.
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