Frostbite

Frostbite is a common condition that causes skin damage and may lead to permanent damage in some cases.

Frostbite

Frostbite leads to skin damage due to the freezing temperature, which is below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). It can be mild and managed easily, but it can be severe in some cases and lead to serious complications.

Causes of frostbite

• Exposure to freezing cold, in addition to direct contact with ice, very cold liquids, or freezing metals.
• The risk of frostbite increases due to the following factors:
• Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, poor blood flow, and exhaustion.
• Smoking.
• In infants and elderly people.
• Not wearing proper clothes in freezing conditions.
• Cold conditions at high altitude.

Symptoms of frostbite

There are stages for the frostbite:

• Frostnip: this is the early stage of frostbite and causes pain, numbness, and tingling without any permanent skin damage.
• Mild to moderate frostbite (superficial frostbite): it causes skin discoloration and a warm feeling. It causes stinging, burning, and swelling, in addition to fluid-filled blisters after 12-36 hours of rewarming the skin.
• Deep frostbite: this affects all the layers of the skin in addition to the tissues below. The skin in the affected area becomes white or blue-grey with large blood blisters after 2-4 days of rewarming. When the tissue dies after weeks, the skin becomes black and hard.

Frostbite can lead to hypothermia, prolonged numbness in the affected area, excessive sweating, increased sensitivity to cold, changes in the nails or losing them, infection, tetanus, growth problems in children if the frostbite damages a bone’s growth plate, and gangrene.

Diagnosis of frostbite

• Physical exam.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of frostbite

Treating frostbite depends on the stage.

In the case of a frostnip:

• Remove anything from the affected area gently.
• Put the affected area in warm water (not hot), and this can take up to 30 minutes.
• Put blankets on the affected area, and don’t rub it.
• Don’t apply direct heat on the skin.

Other stages of frostbite require medical care from a healthcare provider.

Frostbite can be prevented by not going outdoors if it’s freezing, dressing properly in cold weather and protecting yourself, and watching for any symptom of frostbite.