How to Identify and Prevent Frostbite
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Winter has arrived, and along with it, freezing temperatures. Spending time outside in the winter is good for your physical and mental health, but it also brings the risk of frostbite.
Your skin is made up of 60% water, and freezing temperatures can freeze that water and damage the skin cells and tissue, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This limits blood flood to the area and can lead to irreversible damage to skin, nerves and muscles.
The best way to manage frostbite is prevention. Learn more about how to identify the condition and how to prevent it.
What are the symptoms of frostbite?
Temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius can cause frostbite. When the windchill is 15 below zero Fahrenheit or colder, however, you can get frostbite in 30 minutes or less.
Frostbite is most common on fingers, toes, nose and ears even if they are covered. You’re more likely to get frostbite if you:
- Live and work in cold climates
- Are younger than 18 or older than 65
- Have a medical condition such as arthritis, diabetes, Raynaud’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, peripheral vascular disease or malnutrition
- Smoke tobacco products
There are three stages of frostbite: frostnip, superficial frostbite and deep frostbite, according to WebMD.
Frostnip
- Skin changes to red, purple or lighter than normal
- Skin has itching, burning or “pins and needles” sensation
- Swollen patches or blisters called chilblains after rewarming
Superficial frostbite
- Stinging and swelling skin
- Skin turns hard and looks waxy or shiny
- Painful bruises or patches after rewarming
- Peeling or blisters after one to two days
Deep frostbite
- Skin turns numb, loses all sensation
- Difficult to move the area
- Skin turns black and may fall off
- Blisters form after two to four days after thawing
If you have any symptoms of superficial or deep frostbite, seek medical treatment immediately.
For frostnip, get inside as soon as possible. Use warmwater heated to body temperature or body heat to warm the area. Do not use a heat source such as a heating pad or lamp because that could burn your skin. Don’t rub the affected area, either. Rest instead of using the affected areas to prevent further injury and allow them to heal.
How to prevent frostbite
Prevention is the best way to keep your face, hands and feet healthy in the winter. Here are ways to stay safe in the cold:
Dress warmly
- Dress in layers: a moisture-wicking thermal layer next to the skin, insulating materials such as wool or fleece and a water-resistant and windproof top later. These layers should be loose rather than skintight.
- Wear a pair of moisture-wicking socks and another pair of wool socks.
- Wear mittens, a hat that covers your ears and a neck gaiter or scarf you can pull over your mouth.
- Wear insulated, water-proof boots that cover your ankles.
- When you get inside, remove wet mittens, socks and hats as soon as possible.
Other ways to prevent frostbite:
- When the temperature or windchill is 15 below zero or you are more susceptible to frostbite, stay indoors.
- If you do have to go outside in bitter cold, limit the trips to 10 to 15 minutes and then warm up in between.
- Keep moving to maintain your blood circulation.
- Watch for symptoms of frostbite in yourself and loved ones, especially in children who may focus on playing, and go inside at the first sign.
- Stay hydrated.
- Don’t smoke because it narrows your blood vessels.
- Don’t drink alcohol, which causes you to lose body heat.
- Keep a charged cellphone with you and tell someone where you are going and how long you expect to be.
- Keep a warm blanket, extra clothes, extra boots, a hat, a scarf, gloves, food and water and a first aid kit in your vehicle in case of emergencies.
Image: Getty Images
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