Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. In the earliest stage of frostbite, known as frostnip, there is no permanent damage to skin. Symptoms include cold skin and a prickling feeling, followed by numbness and inflamed or discolored skin. As frostbite worsens, skin may become hard or waxy-looking.
1. What is Frostbite?
Frostbite is when exposure to freezing temperatures damages areas of your skin and the tissues underneath. It’s a treatable but potentially serious condition.
2. What Are the Symptoms?
When it's cold out, skin that’s not covered may get red or sore. This is called frostnip, and it’s an early warning sign of frostbite. If this happens, find warm shelter quickly.
Symptoms of frostbite depend on how deep it goes into the body. There are three stages. Early frostbite affects the top layers of the skin. More advanced cases can go all the way to the muscles and bones.
Early stage
Skin turns a pale yellow or white
It may itch, sting, burn, or feel like "pins and needles."
Intermediate stage
Skin becomes hard
It looks shiny or waxy
When the skin thaws, blisters filled with fluid or blood form
Advanced stage
Skin is very hard and cold to the touch
Skin darkens quickly. It may look blue and later turn black
Some people don't know they have frostbite because as it gets worse, you can't feel the area anymore. That's why you need to look for changes in skin color.
3. Frostbite Causes
Just like water turns to ice when the temperature drops, your fingers, hands, toes, feet -- even your nose and ears -- can freeze if exposed to extremely cold weather or you touch something very cold, like ice or frozen metal. Being farther away from your core, these are the first areas affected by decreased blood flow in response to cold.
You’re more likely to get frostbite if you don’t dress properly for cold, windy, or wet weather, or you wear clothes that are too tight in those conditions.
How soon frostbite happens depends on how cold and windy it is outside. It can happen faster than you may think. In frigid weather it’s possible for frostbite to happen in just 5 minutes.
4. Frostbite Treatment
Frostbite home care
First, get to a warm place. Don't rub your skin. That can damage it if it’s frozen.
Don’t place cold hands or feet in a tub of hot water. If your skin is numb, you may not be able to feel if the water is too hot. That could cause further damage. Instead, soak the affected hands and feet in warm water (104 F to 107 F), or place a washcloth with warm water on the affected areas that can’t be submerged, like nose and ears, for at least 30 minutes.
Your skin should start to heal quickly. As it thaws, it may get red. You may also feel painful stinging or prickling sensations, like “pins and needles.”
Frostbite hospital care
At the hospital, the staff will try to warm you up, restore blood flow to the affected area, and stop further damage. You may:
Have warm sponges placed on your nose, ears, or other frozen body areas
Be given pain medicine for nerve pain that may flare as your skin warms up
Get imaging tests, like an MRI, to see how many layers of skin are damaged
Have skin that is dead scraped off
Some studies suggest that aspirin or other blood thinner meds may help restore blood flow in body parts with severe frostbite if your doctor gives you them within 24 hours of rewarming. A treatment called hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in which you get 100% oxygen in a controlled setting, is also being studied as a possible treatment. So far, the results are mixed.