Question

Frostbite: Symptoms, Stages and Prevention

Dr.Raghuvir Saini · Accepted Answer

When there is freezing of skin due to the environment, there is injury, due to freezing, of the skin and the underlying tissues is called frostbite. There are stages of frostbite. Earliest stage is known as frostnip in which there is no permanent damage to tissue and layers of skin. ;

There are few symptoms like cold skin and itching feeling. After sometime symptoms are followed by numbness to inflammation and discoloration of skin. At late stage of frostbite the symptoms are skin harding, or skin turn to waxy like structure.

When the environment is cold and windy, skin can be affected with frostbite. Anywhere in the body, frostbite can take place. Frostbite is like it can affect the body even when you are wearing clothes.

You will not recognize it until it is compared to other skin textures. The best way to avoid frostbite is to warm yourself but frostbite can cause you to have medical attention. It damages skin, tissue and also bone.

Symptoms:

Frostbite have many sign and symptoms, they are:

When frostnips attack you, there will be a feeling of cold cold skin and a prickling feeling in the skin.

There will be slight numbness in the hands and feet.

There are color stages when frostbite attacks you, the change in color of skin are in stages: red, white, bluish-white, grayish-yellow, purplish, brown or at last ashen. This color shows the severity of frostbite on the body.

At the last stage there will be areas that look like hard or there will be waxy-looking skin.

Due to stiffness of muscle and joint because of cold can cause us to be clumsy. ;

When there is a severe case, rewarming can cause you to blister on the surface of the skin.

The external part like my fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin suffers from frostnip or later frostbite. Due to the cold your hands and feet get numb and if there is no change in color, you cannot recognize you have suffered from frostbite. People who have black or brown skin color their frostbite is not recognized.

Frostbite is in several stages. They are:

Frostnip: first comes frostnip. It is considered a mild form of frostbite and it is an early stage of frostbite. When frostnip is continued there will be numbness in the area of frostnip. If you warm the area, the skin structure changes causing pain and tingling in the skin of the affected area. Frostnip affects skin mildly, so there is no permanent damage to skin. ;

Superficial frostbite: superficial frostbite is the second stage of frostbite. This frostbite has the capacity to change the color of the skin. When there is color change in the skin it is followed by a slight rise in temperature of skin slightly. Many people rewarm the affected area at this stage, the area will be visible like a mottle. And fully warming the skin starts to burn and there will be swelling in the affected area. After a few hours of rewarming there will be blisters on the affected area.

Deep (severe) frostbite: it is the last stage of frostbite. At this stage, it affects all layers of skin as well as the tissues and bone of the affected area. The affected area will change its color to brown or ash color. The skin loses all the sensation like pain, tickling, cold, warmth or even any type of heat. The affected areas of the joint and muscles will not have any movement. There will be blisters all over and look like it has died due to skin color.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience the following symptoms you must go to doctor:

When frostnips attack you, there will be a feeling of cold cold skin and a prickling feeling in the skin.

There will be slight numbness in the hands and feet.

There are color stages when frostbite attacks you, the change in color of skin are in stages: red, white, bluish-white, grayish-yellow, purplish, brown or at last ashen. This color shows the severity of frostbite on the body.

At the last stage there will be areas that look like hard or there will be waxy-looking skin.

Due to stiffness of muscle and joint because of cold can cause us to be clumsy. ;

When there is a severe case, rewarming can cause you to blister on the surface of the skin.

Prevention:

There are few tips for preventing the frostbite:

We should let ourselves out for more time in windy and cold, wet winters. Please listen to the news to know about the weather forecast. Your skin can catch frostbite within a few minutes of exposure to cold weather.

We should dress warm and loose. And wear it in different layers to capture the air to insulate the body. The air which gets trapped inside acts as an insulation from outside cold and cold air. We should cover ourselves with waterproof and windproof cloth, so that it will protect us from cold and wind and snow. Always change the wet cloth like gloves and undergarments.

We should wear hats or woolen headbands to cover our ears. An open head can feel cold easily so we should cover it with the best woolen cloth and use headwear frequently, this will keep you warm.

Always wear socks in the feet and mitten in the hand. Mittens are made from woolen cloth that keeps you warm rather than wearing gloves. When you go in windy weather, wear gloves in your hands.

Keepyouself warm by eating warm food and drink. Eat food which gives you more energy to insulate. And produce more heat. Avoid cold foods and drink this can give you cold.

Conclusion:

Frostbite is not serious at benign. But later they can affect you badly. They can cause permanent damage to the body. Keep yourselves warm and keep yourself away from the cold. If you have symptoms of frostbite please refer to a doctor for treatment.

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