How can frostbite be treated

Wearing loose, light layers helps trap warm air. The first layer should be made of a synthetic material, which wicks moisture away from your body. The next layer should be insulating.

Wool and fleece are good insulators and hold in more body heat than cotton. The top layer should be windproof and waterproof. A down parka and ski pants can help keep you dry and warm during outdoor activities. Protect your feet and toes. To protect your feet and toes, wear two pairs of socks.

The first pair, next to your skin, should be made of moisture-wicking fabric. Place a pair of wool or wool-blend socks on top of those. Your boots should also provide adequate insulation.

They should be waterproof and cover your ankles. Make sure that nothing feels tight, as tight clothing increases the risk of frostbite. However, some people may have permanent problems that can include pain or numbness in the frostbitten area. Deep frostbite is the most severe stage of frostbite and affects both your skin and the tissues that lie below.

It may feel numb to sensations such as cold or pain. Muscles close to the affected area may not work properly. Blood-filled blisters may also develop in people with deep frostbite. Deep frostbite requires immediate medical attention. Like the treatment for superficial frostbite, your doctor will rewarm the area. This type of medication may help to improve blood flow to the injured area.

Following rewarming, the area will appear black and feel hard. This is due to tissue death in the affected area. Large blisters may also develop. Your doctor may wait for several weeks after your frostbite injury in order to determine the full extent of the damage. In some cases, a procedure or surgery may be required to remove the dead tissue. As with some cases of superficial frostbite, people that have had deep frostbite may have lasting problems that can include pain or numbness as well as increased sensitivity to cold in the frostbitten area.

Frostbite has several stages. Others, such as superficial frostbite and deep frostbite, require prompt medical attention to avoid permanent damage. Be prepared to deal with all sorts of weather. An ice burn can develop when your skin is exposed to very cold temperatures. Learn how to prevent and treat it. A winter rash is an area of irritated skin that develops during winter, often due to dry skin.

Learn how to treat and prevent winter rashes. This should improve blood flow to the affected body part, which can stimulate healing and prevent further damage. You may also be given antibiotics to prevent the affected body part becoming infected. Iloprost is sometimes used to treat severe frostbite. It works by widening the blood vessels that supply blood to the affected body part.

When severe frostbite threatens the loss of a limb, finger or toe, a person should be considered for treatment with tPA or iloprost within 24 hours of the injury happening. Experience has shown that treatment given within this timeframe has the best outcomes in terms of saving the affected body part.

But giving these treatments after 24 hours could still be considered to be an option at an experienced unit. If some of the tissue of the affected body part has died gangrene , it'll need to be removed. The procedure to remove dead tissue is called debridement. In the most serious cases of frostbite, an entire part of the body, such as the fingers or toes, may need to be removed amputated. A decision to perform debridement or amputation is usually delayed for several weeks, as often what appears to be dead tissue can heal and recover over time.

After having frostbite, some people are left with permanent problems, such as increased sensitivity to cold, numbness, stiffness and pain in the affected area. As winter drags on and temperatures drop way down, your risk of cold-related injury like frostbite can go way up. Sanj Kakar Mayo Clinic Orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon says frostbite is more common than many people think.

Kakar explains. If the windchill drops below negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit, not unheard of in the northern half of the U. Kakar says. It can be white. Or it can be blue. And you can get these blisters on your hands.

And it can be a very serious injury. Mild frostbite frostnip can be treated at home with first-aid care. For all other frostbite, after appropriate first aid and assessment for hypothermia, medical treatment may involve rewarming, medications, wound care, surgery and various therapies, depending on the severity of the injury. Call your doctor if you suspect you have frostbite or hypothermia. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be told to go to an emergency room.

If you have time before your appointment, use the information below to get ready for your medical evaluation.