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Frostbite is the freeze of the skin and tissue . While it may seem like just a problem that tramp or mountain climbers have to deal with , anyone can get frostbite when exposed to freezing temperatures . In fact , frostbite is the most common freeze down accidental injury , according the U.S. National Library of Medicine .
Causes
ordinarily , frostbite can materialize in just a few minutes or can take as long as an hour or two .
" The attack / risk of frostbite is straight off subject on the ambient temperature ( also taking into account the air current chill ) and the distance of exposure . The colder the temperature plus farting thrill , the less metre it takes for frostbite to occur , " say Dr. Nicholas Lorenzo , chief medical officer withMeMD , a Web - ground health servicing provider base in Scottsdale , Arizona .
Other factors come into gambling as well , Lorenzo explained . One is the age or size of the somebody . Typically , children will experience frostbite more quickly than someone magnanimous and one-time . Those with less than optimum circulation to trunk parts such as hand , fingers , feet or toes , or those with pre - existent condition including diabetes , autoimmune vascular disorder or coronary artery disease obliterans ( hardening of the arteries ) are also more at risk of stimulate frostbite .
Frostbite can happen in just a few minutes or can take as long as an hour or two, depending on the temperature and length of exposure.
Though frostbite can move any part of the physical structure , some areas are more susceptible . " Any hide open can suffer frostbite with significant cold-blooded exposure . However , the most susceptible skin areas are distal [ i.e. , the component farthest away from the center of the eubstance ] and would include the hands , fingers , feet , toes , tip of the nozzle , face and ear lobes , " Lorenzo told Live Science .
Signs and symptoms
Common signs of frostbite , according to theMayo Clinic , are inhuman skin and a prickling tactile sensation in the affected area . As frostbite advancement , the area may become numb , and the someone may become clumsy because of brawniness and joint stiffness . The skin will change colors , according to the rigor of the circumstance . Skin may become red , blanched , bluish - livid or greyish - yellow , and may become hard or waxy looking .
Like burns from heat , frostbite has degrees of severity , according to theNational Weather Service . With first - degree cryopathy , ice crystals form on the cutis . When a person is see second - degree cryopathy , the peel will start to palpate warm , even though it has not defrosted . In third - level frostbite , the skin will turn red , pale or white . The fourth stage of frostbite is long lasting . The pain will last for several hours , and the area may turn obscure blue or dim under the pelt .
TheMayo Cliniccategorizes frostbite into stage . The first stage is called frostnip . The skin may turn pale or red , and it may feel splenetic or numb . As the skin warm up , it may offend or prickle . This level does n’t cause any lasting wrong , though .
The 2d level is called superficial cryopathy and is more serious . It happens when the cutis turns bloodless or pallid . At this stage , the peel may feel subdued , but it may really have ice vitreous silica mold in the tissue , beneath the surface . The eubstance part may also feel affectionate to the person with frostbite , even though the body part is still cold . When the area is rewarmed , it may rick a dappled purple or blue and may swell , fire or sting . Within the next 24 to 36 hours , the area may develop fluid - fill blisters .
The final stage is hard or deep frostbite . This leg affects all layers of skin and the tissue beneath . The area may become numb , with no sensation of cold or discomfort . The join and muscle of the affected orbit may also stop working . After the arena is rewarmed , it will develop magnanimous bulla within 24 to 48 hr and the area will turn black-market and hard because the tissue paper has died , fit in to theMayo Clinic .
Treatment
handling of frostbite commonly admit some type of rewarming unconscious process . accord to the U.S. National Library of Medicine , those with foretoken of cryopathy should be checked forhypothermiafirst , before get treatment for frostbite . Hypothermia is a condition that take place when the temperature in the core of the body ( as opposed to the limbs ) drop to 95 stage Fahrenheit ( 35 degrees Anders Celsius ) or lower . If the patient has symptom of hypothermia , such as intense shivering , slurred speech , drowsiness or a loss of coordination , then the individual should get emergency aesculapian attention right away .
Those with symptom of superficial or deep frostbite should see a doc , but first , the patient must be moved to a warm , stable area . " If a frostbitten injury is rewarmed and then freeze again , significantly more damage can occur , " Lorenzo said .
Then , the stirred area should be wrapped and splinted . " overweening motility can cause icing vitreous silica within the tissue to cause further tissue impairment , " he said . According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine , toe and digit should be wrapped individually .
Once the patient is at a medical quickness , the person ’s touch arena will be rewarmed . " The most common method to rewarm frostbitten tissue is to immerse the tissue in warm water supply at 104 to 108 F [ 40 to 42 C ] , " Lorenzo say .
Lorenzo pointed out that as peripheral tissue paper are rewarmed , there is a little risk of temperature reduction of the body core , which carries the risk of cardiac dysrhythmias , or irregular heartbeat . The risk is very crushed unless the patient has pre - existent risk factors such as heart disease and advanced age . During treatment , the core body temperature must be monitored in at - risk patient role .
The physician may range an X - ray , bone scan ormagnetic resonance imaging ( MRI)test to determine the severeness of bone or muscle damage . Once the damage is determined , the area will be treated consequently .
Patients with frostnip can self - treat by rewarming the body . This can be done by holding a warm fabric against the area or by putting the area into warm water .
Prevention
Frostbite can be prevented with the right protection when face moth-eaten temperatures . The American Academy of Dermatology recommends :
Additional resources
