Frostbite is a condition that occurs when the tissue under the skin “burns” as a result of exposure to very cold temperatures, rather than heat. You may experience symptoms of frostbite when your skin is exposed to very cold air at high altitudes, or when you come into direct contact with a frozen object. If the symptoms are mild, such as numbness, numbness, itching, pain, or minor discoloration, please treat it yourself at home. However, if you have more severe symptoms, such as blistering, numbness and/or discoloration for too long, or an infection, see your doctor immediately for proper medical treatment!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Treating Mild Frost At Home
Step 1. Stay away from the source of inflammation
If you think you have frostbite, immediately move your skin away from the specific source of inflammation. If inflammation occurs when you are at high altitude and/or exposed to very cold air, move to lower ground immediately and wear as much extra clothing as possible.
Step 2. Remove wet or cold clothes
After distancing yourself from the source of inflammation, immediately remove wet or cold clothing to stop exposure to cold temperatures in the body. Remember, your goal is to normalize the temperature in the frostbite area of the skin as quickly as possible.
Step 3. Soak the burned skin area in warm water for 20 minutes
To treat inflammation of the skin, try heating water in a bathtub, sink, or pot. If using a pot, stop when the water is warm, not boiling! In particular, the water temperature should be in the range of 37-40 degrees Celsius. Once the desired temperature is reached, soak the burned area in warm water for a full 20 minutes.
- Don't use water that's over 40 degrees Celsius, especially since being too hot can actually exacerbate the damage done to your skin.
- While soaking, chances are your skin will tingle. The sensation arises because the skin that was "frozen" begins to thaw, and your senses begin to function normally again.
Step 4. Rest the skin after soaking for 20 minutes
After soaking for 20 minutes, remove the burned area from the soaking water, and let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes so that the skin has time to return to its normal temperature.
- If the condition of the skin begins to feel better after being soaked for 20 minutes, and if the pain begins to subside, chances are that the soaking process does not need to be repeated again.
- Generally, the room temperature is in the range of 21 degrees Celsius. If you're having trouble resting in this room, try covering the inflamed skin with a blanket or a piece of clothing.
Step 5. Repeat the soaking process if the skin temperature is still cold
After resting for 20 minutes at room temperature, reheat the water to repeat the soaking process if the frostbite symptoms still don't go away.
- If the skin is soaked a second time in warm water for 20 minutes, give it a break of about 20 minutes after that before moving on to the next step.
- If the symptoms do not subside after the skin is rested for 20 minutes after the second soak, contact a doctor immediately!
Step 6. Apply a warm compress to the skin for 20 minutes
If your skin still feels a little numb or cold after applying the previous method, even though your symptoms have started to subside, try applying a warm compress to your skin for about 20 minutes. In addition to using a warm pad, you can also use a bag filled with warm water or a cloth soaked in hot water.
If the skin feels sore when compressed, try placing it under a warm pillow instead of applying pressure
Step 7. Remove the compress so that the skin temperature returns to normal
After being compressed for 20 minutes, remove the compress and leave the skin exposed to air in the room until the temperature returns to normal.
Step 8. Use aloe vera gel or ointment containing the ingredient if the skin is not cracked or injured
Apply as much aloe vera gel as possible to the burned skin area, about 3 times a day. In particular, aloe vera can help soothe wounds and keep the skin moist, thus speeding up the recovery time of the skin.
Aloe vera can also help speed up the formation of new skin cells
Step 9. Cover the wound with loose gauze
To protect inflamed skin from exposure to germs or other irritants, try covering it with medical gauze, then covering the cloth with medical tape. Make sure the wound is not bandaged too tightly so the skin has room to breathe.
- To keep the wound clean, don't forget to change the bandage every 48 hours. After removing the old bandage, gently rinse the skin with room temperature water to clean it, then apply as much aloe vera gel as needed.
- Cover the inflamed area until the condition is completely healed and the pain subsides.
- Supposedly, minor frostbite can completely heal within 2 weeks.
Method 2 of 2: Performing Medical Treatment
Step 1. Get medical treatment if the inflammatory condition is severe
Identify the severity of your symptoms, and see your doctor right away if you have any symptoms to watch out for, such as blisters or cracks in your skin, skin that looks white, gray, or yellow in color despite being warmed, skin that feels numb, skin that feels very cold when warmed. to the touch, or a skin texture that remains firm even after being warmed.
- In very severe cases, you will likely find it difficult or even unable to move the muscles in the affected area of the skin.
- You may also notice other signs of infection, such as pus or greenish discharge, fever, and/or increased pain intensity.
- Although minor frostbite may also cause blisters and cracks on the skin, they are generally indicative of more severe inflammation. Even if the inflammatory condition is minor, blisters and/or cracks in the skin will make it difficult to clean the skin or treat the wound properly. That's why, don't hesitate to see a doctor if you have an open wound, whatever the cause.
Step 2. Get emergency treatment in case of clotting of the skin and underlying tissue
If your skin looks blue or even blackened, or if the pain is so intense that it's hard for you to tolerate, there's a good chance that a tissue clot has occurred and needs immediate medical attention. In fact, the difference between frostbite and skin tissue freezing is not very obvious, but generally, tissue freezing occurs when the skin and the underlying tissue are both frozen and damaged.
- Both frostbite and tissue freezing can cause the skin to turn white, red, or pale yellow. However, generally only tissue freezing can make the skin look bluish or even black.
- Do not warm the skin before you get to the Emergency Room, especially if the tissue may freeze again afterwards.
- Do not rub the frozen area so that the damage to the skin tissue does not get worse.
Step 3. Take medication to treat specific symptoms
In fact, the treatment method recommended by the doctor depends on the severity of the inflammation, the presence or absence of tissue clots, and the symptoms you are experiencing. In many cases, doctors generally will start treatment by soaking the burned skin in warm water for 20 minutes, or through a therapeutic soak in a whirlpool pool. Your doctor may also prescribe oral pain relievers, medications to fight infection, and other medications through an IV tube to increase blood flow to the affected area.
- If the skin and underlying tissue are damaged, your doctor may perform a procedure to remove part or all of the burned area.
- In very severe cases, your doctor may also order X-rays, bone scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify the intensity of the damage.
- If the inflammation is very severe, it is likely that the body will only recover a few weeks or even months afterward. If the skin and underlying tissue freeze, chances are the area won't be able to completely heal forever.
Tips
- To help relieve the pain that occurs, try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen.
- Ibuprofen and aspirin can also help relieve swelling from frostbite.
- Frostbite can be prevented by wearing clothes that cover the entire surface of the skin with a thick enough material, at least to protect the body from wind and weather at that time.
- Even if the skin tissue doesn't freeze when you get frostbite, it's still a good idea to see a doctor!
Warning
- Cold compresses from ice cubes are one of the biggest causes of frostbite. To avoid this risk, don't forget to put a towel between the cold compress and your skin.
- Although frostbite can occur in any condition, the risk of frostbite is higher for people who exercise in winter, smoke, take beta-blocking drugs, or have neuropathic disorders that reduce their ability to detect pain or cold sensations.
- Children and the elderly are at higher risk for frostbite, mainly because their bodies generally don't have the ability to naturally regulate body temperature.
- Sometimes, frostbite can complicate and transform into tetanus.
