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. 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. Many people can recover fully from superficial frostbite. New skin will form under any blisters or scabs. However, some people may have permanent problems that can include pain or numbness in the frostbitten area.
Deep frostbite is the most severe stage of frostbite and affects both your skin and the tissues that lie below. 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. This type of medication may help to improve blood flow to the injured area. Zafren K, et al. Accessed July 13, Rochester, Minn. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Walls RM, et al. Frostbite and nonfreezing cold injuries. Philadelphia, Pa. McIntosh SE, et al.
Wilderness Medical Society practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of frostbite. Bergeron MF, et al. International Olympic Committee consensus statement on thermoregulatory and altitude challenges for high-level athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine. Miller T. Preparing for cold weather exercise. Performance Training Journal. Briggs JK. In: Triage Protocols for Aging Adults. Wolters Kluwer; You will not be able to feel cold or even pain and discomfort in the affected area.
You may lack mobility in joints or muscles, as well. Large blisters are likely to form 24 to 48 hours after the skin is rewarmed. Finally, the affected part of the body will turn black and hard as the tissue begins to die. Seek medical help if your frostbite shows signs of becoming worse or seems worse than frostnip.
If you see symptoms of hypothermia, such as intense shivering, drowsiness, poor coordination, and slurred speech as well, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Learn More. Site by Transformation Marketing. Patient Login. Copyright Lincoln Orthopaedic Center Home Blog Clinic Updates. MRI Xray. Physicians Dr. Reckmeyer Dr. Patients with frostbite often experience a numbness, burning, tingling, itching, or very cold sensation in the affected areas.
Symptoms first start out as redness, stinging, and burning, leading to a throbbing and prickling sensation and eventually numbness. The skin may also appear waxy, white, or grayish. Frostbite may also cause clumsiness , due to stiffness developing in the joints and muscles.
More severe frostbite results in decreased sensation, leading to overall loss of sensation. Severe frostbite may also cause gangrene blackened, dead tissue , blisters , and further damage to tendons , muscles , nerves , and bone.
The skin may appear pale, yellowish, bluish, or mottled. In severe cases, the skin is black. In superficial frostbite, deeper tissues may still feel soft while the skin is frozen. In deep frostbite, the entire affected extremity or body part will feel solid, hard, and frozen.
Frostbite is completely preventable if you take care to protect yourself. Working outdoors, playing outdoor winter sports, or simply walking around outside in cold weather can increase your risk of getting frostbite. The single most effective way to prevent worsening of possible frostbite is to go inside, and get away from extreme cold.
When in a cold environment and especially during the winter months, it is important to always take care to cover exposed skin.
Helpful methods of prevention include:. Wearing light and loose clothing in layers — try to wear clothing that provides ventilation and insulation, and add a top layer that is water-repellant.
Wear mittens which are warmer than gloves , two pairs of socks wool is better than cotton , and a hat one that covers your head and ears is best. Avoid getting wet. If wet, seek a dry and warm area and remove wet clothing. Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking if you know you are going to be outside in the extreme cold. Stay hydrated — dehydration increases your risk of frostbite, so try to drink water prior to going outside.
Increase physical activity when in a cold environment to maintain body warmth and prevent onset of frostbite, but not to a degree of exhaustion. Another useful method to avoid worsening of frostbite is to check your body every 30 minutes for signs of possible frostbite when outside in a cold environment. Being aware and proactive in avoiding frostbite can significantly improve the outcome of such a condition. It is very important to treat frostbite as soon as possible.
Frostnip can be treated with at-home techniques, however other severities of frostbite should be evaluated and treated by a medical professional, to lessen the risk of possible infection or nerve damage.
If available, try to go inside a warm room, away from the cold. Remove any jewelry and wet or constrictive clothing. Rest, keep the affected body part elevated to reduce swelling, and take ibuprofen to ease inflammation. Drinking a warm drink, such as tea or broth, can also help to begin rewarming the body. Pain can be managed with over-the-counter treatment such as ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB.
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