4 Frostbite Symptoms And How To Treat Them

With the onset of winter comes the risk of getting frostbite. With all of the outdoor recreation that’s available to us in the winter, it is important to learn how to protect ourselves. Knowing the signs of frostbite in the early stages can help you to avoid permanent damage to your skin and underlying tissues. If you live in, or are traveling to, a cold winter climate, it is crucial to know what frostbite is and the frostbite symptoms that you may experience. We have put together the following information to help you learn what to look for and ways to treat it.

What Is Frostbite?

Photo by Victor Duarte from Pexels

Frostbite occurs when the skin and the tissue underneath become frozen. Early frostbite symptoms can be seen when your skin turns red and becomes really cold. Then, it will turn numb and be hard and pale. Fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin are the usual areas where frostbite occurs. Exposed skin is most likely to become frostbitten, but it can happen to skin that is covered by gloves or clothing as well.

The Three Stages

Frostbite happens in three stages:

Frostnip

This is the earliest stage of frostbite, seen when your skin becomes red and cold. When the affected area becomes warm again, you might have tingling and pain in that area. Frostnip does not cause permanent damage.

Superficial Frostbite

If the cold, red skin of frostnip continues to be exposed, new frostbite symptoms will appear. The skin will turn white or pale and begin to feel warm. This warming sensation is a serious sign of skin damage. Treating frostbite by rewarming the affected area may cause stinging, burning and swelling. Your skin may look mottled or marked with pale spots and darker spots of skin. During the next 36 hours, a fluid-filled blister will likely appear.

Deep Frostbite

This is the most severe stage of frostbite. It affects both the surface layer of skin and the tissues underneath. Your skin will become white or bluish gray. The affected area will lose all feeling, including loss of pain or discomfort and the feeling of being cold. Finger and toe joints may not work due to the numbness. After rewarming the area, large blisters will form within 24 to 48 hours. When the blisters heal, the area underneath will be black and hard, and the tissue will die.

Causes of Frostbite

Frostbite is usually caused by the skin being exposed to cold-weather. Cold temperatures on a windy day can shorten the length of time it takes to get frostbite. It can also be caused by the skin coming into direct contact with ice, frozen metal or very cold liquids.

Improper Clothing

Wearing clothing that isn’t warm enough or doesn’t cover the skin sufficiently on a cold day may lead to frostbite. Clothing that is too tight may also contribute to frostbite as there is no air pocket between your skin and the layer of clothing for body heat to gather.

Extended Exposure

Staying outside too long when it is cold and windy will lead to frostbite. The chances of getting frostbite increase when air temperature falls below 5 degrees Farenheit even on a calm day. When the wind chill registers at -16 degrees Farenheit, frostbite can occur in less than 30 minutes,

Direct Contact

Touching metal that has been exposed to cold weather can freeze the skin. Plus, if your skin has any moisture on it, the metal will freeze to your skin. The same thing can happen with ice and cold packs.

Risk Factors

There are risk factors that increase a person’s susceptibility to frostbite. These risk factors include:

Some medical conditions if they affect your ability to feel cold, such as fatigue, diabetes and poor circulation.
Alcohol or drug abuse
Fear, panic or a mental illness that impairs your ability to respond to cold appropriately
Having had frostnip or frostbite in the past
Being very young or elderly (These age groups do not produce and retain body heat as easily.)
High altitudes
Smoking

4 Frostbite Symptoms and How to Treat Them

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Symptoms

NUMBNESS, TINGLING AND REDDENED SKIN

In the earliest stages, frostbite symptoms include reddened skin that has a pins-and-needles tingling with numbness. Paying attention to these early warning signs can prevent permanent damage to your skin. Your skin will still offer resistance when pressed upon. Applying aloe vera gel or lotion to the affected area may help to soothe the skin when it is damaged by superficial frostbite.

WHITE OR BLUISH-GRAY SKIN

As it worsens, frostbite symptoms indicate that serious damage is being done to your skin. It will begin to feel warm again but will appear pale white or bluish-gray. There is no longer any resistance when the skin is pressed upon.

JOINT AND MUSCLE STIFFNESS

When frostbite moves to the underlying tissues, joint and muscle stiffness will develop. It will become difficult to hold anything. When your feet are affected, it is difficult to walk.

FLUID AND BLOOD-FILLED BLISTERS

When frostbite moves to the underlying tissues, joint and muscle stiffness will develop. It will become difficult to hold anything. When your feet are affected, it is difficult to walk.

Treatment

Minor frostbite symptoms are able to be treated at home, using general first- aid materials. When the frostbite symptoms are more severe, medical attention is required. The first step in treating all cases of frostbite is rewarming the affected area. Rewarm the affected area in a warm water bath for 15 to 30 minutes. Do not rub the skin or apply direct heat; this will cause more damage. Also, do not walk on frostbitten feet. After it is rewarmed, severe frostbite requires more treatment. These treatments may include:

ORAL PAIN MEDICINE

The rewarming process can be rather painful. Pain medication can be taken to help ease the pain and discomfort of rewarming. Be sure to take the medication as prescribed by your doctor. For superficial frostbite, over-the-counter pain medicine is usually sufficient.

BANDAGING

After your skin is thawed, your doctor will wrap the affected area with sterile dressings to protect the skin. Your doctor may also gently separate your finger or toes while they rewarm to prevent further damage. Elevating the injury may help to reduce swelling.

DEBRIDEMENT

Debridement is the removal of damaged tissue. They must remove damaged and dead tissue in order for the area to heal properly. It may take up to 3 months before it is clear which tissue is damaged and which is healthy.

HYDROTHERAPY

Soaking in a whirlpool will help keep the skin clean by naturally removing dead tissue. This may help to speed healing. You will be encouraged to move the affected area gently while in the whirlpool.

ANTIBIOTICS

Antibiotics will be prescribed if it appears the area is infected. Follow your doctor’s orders on how to take your medication to get the maximum benefit.

CLOT-BUSTING DRUGS

If your frostbite symptoms are severe enough, you may receive medication to restore blood flow through an IV. This reduces the risk of amputation of the affected area.

WOUND CARE

They apply a variety of wound care techniques to the treatment of frostbite depending on the severity of the symptoms and the extent of damage.

Complications of Frostbite

Increased cold sensitivity
Long-term numbness
Changes in skin color
Changes in, or complete loss of, nails
Frostbite arthritis
Increased risk of future frostbite

See your doctor immediately if you develop any signs of the following complications:

Infection
Tetanus
Gangrene

How to Prevent Frostbite

The damage of frostbite can be prevented. The easiest way to prevent frostbite is to stay indoors when the temperatures outside plummet. If you do need to go out, here are some tips to help you avoid frostbite:

Not staying outside too long in bad weather.
Dressing in layers of loose, warm clothing. (The air that is trapped between layers acts like insulation.)
Wearing windproof and waterproof outer garments
Wearing a hat or headband that completely covers your ears
Wearing mittens instead of gloves (They protect better.)
Wearing socks that fit well and wick moisture away from the skin
Watching for the early signs of frostbite
Carrying emergency clothing and blankets in your vehicle in case you get stranded
Not drinking alcohol
Moving (Exercise keeps the blood flowing and helps you stay warm.)

Conclusion