Frostbite: Causes, Symptoms, Stages, Treatment, & Prevention

Long exposure to extreme cold temperatures in the winter can results in a person developing frostbite. Commonly seen in your fingers, nose, ears, and toes, frostbite can spread throughout the entire body. While in most cases, superficial frostbite goes away on its own, if left untreated for a long time, it can lead to serious health complications. In this article, we look at some of the natural remedies and tips you can try at home to treat frostbite at home.

Fun Fact

The Greek military first encountered frostbite in 400 BC. The Greek commander Xenophon discussed and recorded this condition.

What Is Frostbite?

Exposing your body to temperatures below the freezing point of your skin can freeze your tissues, causing frostbite. Anyone is susceptible to this condition, including those living in cold climates. Your extremities like your ears, nose, hands, toes, and feet are the most vulnerable to frostbite.

Frostbites can either be superficial or deep. Superficial frostbites occur on the surface and are comparatively less severe than deep frostbites.

A frostbite injury can be serious if not treated on time. According to the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2018), the overall incidence of frostbite injury in the United States is 0.83 for every 100,000 people. The data also indicates that disability from amputation due to frostbite injury affects at least 20% of frostbite-injured patients.

Stages Of Frostbites

There are several stages of frostbite.

• Frostnipⁱ  A mild frostbite that is characterized by a change of color and a cold sensation followed by numbness in parts of the body.

This is the first stage of frostbite, where your skin turns pale or red and very cold. Prolonged exposure to low temperatures can cause pain and a tingling sensation with no permanent damage.

• Superficial Frostbite

You know your frostbite is proceeding to the second stage if it first appears as reddened skin that turns pale or white. Although your skin may remain soft, you will start noticing the formation of ice crystals in your tissues.

• Severe (Deep) Frostbite

As the frostbite progresses, it affects all your skin layers, including the deep tissues. You will experience pain, numbness, and sensations of cold.

The following are some of the common signs and symptoms associated with the superficial and deep frostbite.

Signs And Symptoms Of Frostbite

If you are suffering from superficial frostbite, you may experience:

• Numbness
• Chilblains or itchy skin sores on the skin
• Tingling
• Itching
• Cold sensations in the affected area

Greg Benedis-Grab, a blogger, wrote about how he developed frostbite due to a bad mountain hiking experience. He said, “As my shoes thawed out I experienced unusual sensations with each stepMy pinky toes were a bluish color, irritated, and quite numb. I clearly had the early stages of frostbite (i).”

Also, your skin may appear white or frozen.

Deep frostbite, on the other end, may result in:

• An initial decrease in sensation that may be completely lost over time
• Swelling
• Blood-filled blistering
• Skin turning yellow or white with a waxy appearance
• Significant pain when the area is rewarmed
• Skin looking dead or turning black

Naveen Mallesh, a mountaineer and lifestyle blogger, wrote about experiencing frostbite during his Mt. Manaslu climb. He said, “While getting ready I just removed my socks and had a look at my feet and saw a light blackish tone and this was the first sign of frostbite (ii).”

When exposed to an extremely cold climate, your body undergoes changes to keep you alive. Frostbite is a result of such changes.

Causes And Risk Factors For Frostbites

The most common causes of frostbite are:

• Constrictionⁱ  A feeling of tightness caused by the narrowing of blood vessels due to psychological, medical and environmental conditions. of blood vessels (your body signals blood flow to vital organs)
• As the temperature drops, your blood vessels get dilated for a short period before constricting again. But when your body temperature drops below 98.6°F, your blood vessels constrict permanently to prevent cold blood from returning to your internal organs. Such a scenario indicates the beginning of frostbite.

Frostbite is caused in two ways:

• Cell death at the time of exposure to cold
• Further cell death and deterioration due to lack of oxygen

Some factors that may increase frostbite risk include:

• Medical conditions like dehydration, diabetes, exhaustion, and Reynaud’s phenomenon poor blood flow that impair your response to low temperatures
• Alcohol/drug abuse
• Smoking
• Stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses
• A history of frostbite or cold injury
• Age – older adults and infants are at a higher risk of developing frostbite.
• Being at a high altitude, which reduces the oxygen supply to your skin.

According to an analysis published in CMAJ Open about the 22 frostbite cases reported at Whitehorse General Hospital, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, between Feb. 9, 2015, and Feb. 8, 2020, it was found that 86% of the cases occurred at a temperature of −21°C or colder. Most cases occurred between −21°C and −30°C. Also, there was no significant correlation between the duration of cold exposure and frostbite severity. Check out the graph below to understand the analysis in detail.

Frostbite Severity By Local Environmental Temperature

Let’s now understand how you can diagnose frostbite.

How Are Frostbites Diagnosed?

Frostbites are diagnosed based on your physical signs and symptoms. A doctor analyzes your skin appearance and reviews your recent activities (where you might have gotten exposed to cold).

Your physician may also conduct tests like an X-ray, bone scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)ⁱ  A medical imaging technology that is used to create detailed 3D images of internal organs and tissues inside the body. to determine whether the frostbite has caused damage to your bone or muscles.

Since frostbite can occur to anyone, knowing simple frostbite treatments at home can really help. Scroll down to know more.

How To Treat Frostbite Naturally

1. Warm Water
2. Essential Oils
3. Epsom Salt
4. Vitamin E

5 Natural Treatments For Frostbite

1. Warm Water

You Will Need

A bucket of warm (not hot) water

What You Have To Do

Soak your frostbitten hands/feet in warm water until your symptoms disappear.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this as and when required.

Why This Works

Soaking the frostbitten body part in warm water for a few minutes helps in re-initiating blood flow to it

. This works as an immediate remedy that can prevent worsening of a frostbite (1).

2. Essential Oils

a. Helichrysum Oil

You Will Need

• 3-4 drops of helichrysum oilⁱ  An essential oil made from fresh helichrysum flowers that has healing and restorative properties.
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (or any other carrier oil)

What You Have To Do

1. Mix three drops of helichrysum oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
2. Apply the mixture to the affected areas and leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

The anti-inflammatory properties of helichrysum oil can heal the blisters from frostbites. The oil also relieves pain and redness (2).

b. Cypress Oil

You Will Need

• 3-4 drops of cypress oil
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (or any other carrier oil)

What You Have To Do

1. Mix three drops of cypress oilⁱ  An essential oil known for its healing and astringent properties that also regulates the blood flow and eases muscle pain. with a teaspoon of any carrier oil.
2. Apply the blend to the affected area and allow it to work for 30 to 60 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Reduced blood circulation often causes frostbites, and cypress oil helps here by enhancing the circulation

(3).

3. Epsom Salt

You Will Need

• 1 cup of Epsom saltⁱ  A mineral salt with anti-inflammatory properties used for treating blisters, aches and other symptoms.
• Water

What You Have To Do

1. Fill your bath with water and add some Epsom salt to it.
2. Soak in the Epsom salt bath for 20 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this once daily for optimum benefits.

Why This Works

Epsom salt contains magnesium that helps in fighting inflammation

. It relieves blisters, pain, redness, and other symptoms (4).

4. Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline)

You Will Need

Petroleum jelly

(as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Apply a little Vaseline to the affected areas of your skin.
2. Reapply as and when required.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2 to 3 times daily or as required.

Why This Works

Petroleum jelly moisturizes your skin and forms a protective outer layer. This accelerates healing and also prevents infections.

5. Vitamin E Oil

You Will Need

Vitamin E oil (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Take some vitamin E oil in your palm and apply it all over the frostbite.
2. Leave it on and allow it to be absorbed by your skin.
3. You can also use this as a preventive remedy.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Vitamin E oil moisturizes your skin and aids in its repair and regeneration, thereby healing frostbite

(5).

These remedies work great. But prevention is the key. Following are some tips that can help you prevent frostbites altogether.

Prevention Tips

• Limit your time outside when the weather is cold, wet, or windy.
• Dress in layers of loose and warm clothing.
• Wear a hat or headband meant for covering your ears to protect yourself from the wind chill and snow.
• Opt for mittens instead of gloves.
• Wear socks/sock liners that provide warmth as well as insulation.
• Keep a check on your skin to look out for the early signs of frostbite.

Quick Tip

Wet clothes increase the risk of frostbite. Ensure that you wear windproof and waterproof clothes.

In case of severe frostbite, you may have to undergo immediate medical treatment to prevent it from spreading and affecting other tissues. Learn about some treatment options in the next section.

Medical Treatment Options For Frostbite

• Antibiotics

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics since there is a risk of infection in severe cases. One case study shows oral antibiotics may be an effective non-operative treatment for frostbite lesions (6).

• Surgery

Surgery may be required for advanced frostbite to remove dead tissue and improve the flow of blood (7).

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

In severe cases, HBOT may be considered. Through this therapy, oxygen is provided to the affected tissues to help prevent the frostbite from worsening and to promote healing (8).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the medical treatments for frostbite?

Medical treatments for frostbite include taking medicines to relieve pain, removing the damaged tissue, and rewarming the affected area.

What happens if you leave frostbite untreated?

Untreated frostbite can cause growth defects (especially in children) and infection, tetanusⁱ  A serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system and causes painful muscle contractions. , gangreneⁱ  A condition that leads to the death of tissue as a result of a serious injury, bacterial infection, or interrupted blood supply. , or even permanent loss of sensation in the affected area. Prolonged exposure to cold can also lead to hypothermia (a potentially dangerous drop in your body temperature).

How long does it take to get frostbite?

At 0 degrees, you can get frostbite in less than 30 minutes.

Is frostbite like a sunburn?

While both frostbite and sunburn are quite different, they do share similar symptoms. Anecdotal evidence suggests that frostbite may lead to skin peeling. This is also seen in the skin that is severely affected by sunburn (9), (10) .

Is frostbite worse than a burn?

Yes, frostbite is worse than a burn as it can lead to severe damage like numbness, pain, or stiffness in the affected area. Mild burns only affect the epidermal layer (outermost layer) of the skin and can heal after some time.

Looking for crucial techniques and remedies to effectively treat frostbite? Learn them in this informative video to alleviate discomfort and promote healing. Watch now and be prepared for winter’s chill!

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Caroline DuncanM.D

   

Caroline C. Duncan graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in May of 2017, where her interests were primarily psychiatric, neurologic, and pharmacologic in nature. She served on the editorial board for the school’s literary and artistic publication Humanitas and was editor-in-chief in her fourth and final year.

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Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

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