While slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common wintertime injuries, another injury that is quite common is frostbite and frostnip.
What is Frostbite? What Does Frostbite Look Like?
Frostbite is a skin injury that is caused when the skin and underlying tissues freeze. It is most common on the following body parts: fingers, toes, nose, cheeks, ears, and the chin. Exposed skin in cold, windy weather is the most vulnerable to frostbite, but it can occur on skin that is covered by clothing.
According to HSI magazine, frostbite occurs in several stages. These stages and symptoms include frostnip, superficial frostbite, and deep frostbite.
What is Frostnip?
Frostnip is a milder form of skin injury caused by the cold and it does not always progress to frostbite and permanent tissue damage. However, continued exposure can lead to numbness in the affected area. You may feel pain and tingling as your skin warms up. This feeling is similar to pins and needles.
Frostnip doesn’t permanently damage the skin, but if left untreated it can progress to frostbite. Frostnip will characteristically cause the affected area to become very cold and red.
Superficial Frostbite
Superficial frostbite appears when the reddened skin from frostnip progresses to white or pale skin. The skin may also start to feel warm. The surface of the skin may appear mottled if rewarming of the skin is attempted.
Symptoms of frostbite at this stage may also include tinging, burning, and swelling. Fluid-filled blisters may appear 12 to 36 hours after the affected area is rewarmed.
Deep Frostbite
Deep frostbite occurs when all layers of the skin are affected. The skin turns white or bluish gray. The frostbitten areas may become numb, which means losing all sensation of pain, temperature, or discomfort.
Muscles and joints may no longer work. Large blisters form 1 to 2 days after the affected area is rewarmed. The area will turn black and harden as the tissue dies.
What Causes Frostbite?
Exposure to cold weather conditions is the most common cause of frostbite. It can also be caused by direct contact with very cold liquids, ice, or frozen metal. Specific conditions that lead to frostbite, according to UofL Health, include:
- Wearing clothing that isn’t suitable for the weather conditions you’re in. Make sure to wear clothing that protects against the elements like cold temperatures, wind, and wet weather. Try not to wear clothing that is too tight.
- Staying out in windy and cold conditions too long. The risk of frostbite increases as air temperature falls below 5 degrees F. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes if the wind chill is -16.6 degrees F.
- Touching materials such as frozen metal, ice, or cold packs.
The following factors increase your risk:
- Medical conditions like dehydration, excessive sweating, exhaustion, diabetes, and poor blood flow in your limbs can affect your ability to feel or respond to cold
- Alcohol, drug abuse, or smoking
- Mental illness if it inhibits good judgment or hampers your ability to respond to cold
- Previous frostbite or cold injury
- Infants and older adults may have a harder time producing and retaining body heat
- Being at high altitude reduces the oxygen supply to your skin
How to Prevent Frostbite and Frostnip
Frostbite can be prevented by being aware of your surroundings, wearing proper clothing, and watching for signs. Here are tips to help you stay safe and warm:
- Pay attention to weather forecasts and wind chill readings. Exposed skin can develop frostbite in a matter of minutes in very cold, windy weather. It’s important to limit the time you are outdoors in cold, wet, or windy weather.
- Wear more than one layer of warm, loose clothing. The loose layers will trap air, which acts as insulation against the cold weather.
- Wear a windproof and waterproof jacket to help protect against snow, wind, and rain. Undergarments that wick moisture away from your skin will help keep your skin dry – it’s important to change out of wet clothing. Change out of wet gloves, hats, and socks as soon as possible.
- Keep your ears covered by wearing a hat or headband. Windproof materials and wool make the best headwear for protection against cold environments.
- Keep your hands covered by wearing mittens or gloves. Glove liners made of polypropylene will help wick moisture, keeping your hands dry.
- Keep your feet warm and dry. Try wearing socks that fit well, provide insulation, and wick moisture. Hand and foot warmers are a good option, but be sure the foot warmers don’t make your boots too tight. If the boots or any clothing is too tight, your blood flow can become restricted.
- Watch for signs of frostnip before it becomes frostbite. Signs of frostnip include red skin, numbness, and prickling. Seek shelter if you notice signs of frostbite.
- When traveling in cold weather, carry emergency supplies and extra sets of warm clothing. This will be important in the event you become stranded. If you’ll be in remote territory, let others know your route and when you’ll be back.
- Alcoholic beverages can cause your body to lose heat faster, so it’s best not to drink alcohol if you plan to be outdoors in cold weather.
- Eat well-balanced meals and staying hydrated before going out in the cold will help you stay warm.
Complications
Complications of frostbite include:
- Increased sensitivity to cold and developing frostbite again
- Long-term numbness in the affected area
- Excessive sweating, which is called hyperhidrosis
- Changes in skin color and/or changes in nails
- Joint stiffness, called frostbite arthritis
- Growth defects in children if frostbite damages a bone’s growth plate
- Infection
- Tetanus
- Gangrene, which is the decaying and death of tissue that results from a change in blood flow to the affected area. This can result in amputation
- A dangerous drop in body temperature, called hypothermia
When Should I See a Doctor?
Seek medical attention for frostbite if you experience signs and symptoms of superficial or deep frostbite. If you feel increased pain, swelling, redness, or discharge from the affected area, it is important to see a provider. If you experience a fever or new, unexplained symptoms, please see a doctor.
Get emergency medical help if you suspect hypothermia. Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia include intense shivering, slurred speech, drowsiness, and loss of coordination.
If you experience frostnip or frostbite, protect the affected body parts from further cold. Also make sure to not walk on frostbitten feet. You can take ibuprofen to reduce pain.
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If you are experiencing symptoms of frostbite, walk-in or reserve your spot with Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine. Click here for a list of our locations.