How to Know if You Have the Symptoms of Frostbite

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By Mia Carter
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Find Out How to Tell if You Have Frostbite or Frostnip and Learn How to Know if You Need to Visit the Hospital for Frostbite Treatment.

Frostbite is a painful and potentially disfiguring injury that occurs when skin, muscle, blood vessels and other soft tissues are damaged from exposure to cold. You can get frostbite in a matter of minutes. Frostnip can develop in about 5 minutes, while Frostbite can occur in less than 15 minutes in some conditions. Everyone is susceptible to frostbite - men, women, children, the young and the old, the healthy and the not-so-healthy. Frostbite occurs when the blood in your body withdraws from the skin's surface, moving toward your body core and your vital organs. This loss of blood supply, combined with the freezing of the water in your soft tissue cells leads to frostbite. Keep reading to learn the symptoms of frostbite and to determine if a frostbite victim may need to visit the hospital.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Skin that's been exposed to the cold.
If you do have frostbite, you'll probably need a ride to the hospital.

Step 1

HOW DOES YOUR SKIN FEEL? In the early stages of frostbite (superficial frostbite), symptoms include sensations of burning, itching, tingling, sensation of cold in the area that's frostbitten. What body parts are most likely to get frostbite? The ears, nose, fingers and toes are most prone to developing frostbite.
In the late stages of frostbite (deep frostbite), the frostbitten area will be completely void of sensation.
Step 2

HOW DOES YOUR SKIN LOOK?: In the very earliest stages of frostbite, called frostnip, symptoms include skin that looks red and flushed. As true frostbite sets in, the skin will look pale and white. When frostbite progresses into its most serious form - deep frostbite - the skin will appear waxy and pale, sometimes with a tinge of yellow.
Step 3

HOW DOES YOUR SKIN FEEL TO OTHERS? In a case of frostnip or in the case of superficial frostbite, the skin will maintain its elasticity. When deep frostbite sets in, your skin will lost all elasticity. The skin will feel frozen (that's because it is!). It's difficult to judge this when your hands have been exposed to the cold, so someone else should feel your skin to make this assessment.
Step 4

IS YOUR SKIN BLISTERING? If your skin is blistering, this is a symptom of frostbite. This occurs when the skin cells freeze, causing injury to the soft tissue.
Step 5

IS THE FROSTBITTEN AREA SWELLING? As the blood vessels and capillaries freeze, the water in the cells expands. This causes ripping and tearing of the blood vessel walls. When blood supply resumes as the frostbitten body part is warmed, the blood will seep out of these holes in the blood vessels. This causes swelling and discoloration of a blue or purple color. Swelling can get severe. If you have swelling, this is a sign of deep frostbite and you'll need to visit the hospital for treatment.
Step 6

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR SKIN AS ITS WARMING? One common symptom of serious frostbite is purple skin that develops as the skin starts to warm. The skin may even turn black. Black skin is called necrotic - dead tissue - and this will definitely require a trip to the hospital.

Comments

cosmopinkice said

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on 1/21/2009 Wow great article. Everyone should know this and thanks to you... now I know!

wordstock said

on 1/17/2009 Frostbite is not a big concern here but we're not always here. This is very good information for me. Thanks

georgelarson said

on 1/17/2009 Very good information about the signs of frostbite. Thanks.

chameleon said

on 1/17/2009 helpful, clear instruction on how to recognize frostbite. With the cold weather and teens who don't believe in hats, coats or gloves, this is good to know.