A person with frostbite on the arms or legs may also have hypothermia (lowered body temperature). Check for hypothermia and treat those symptoms first.
Take the following steps if you think someone might have frostbite:
In case of frostbite, DO NOT:
Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissues caused by extreme cold. Frostbite is the most common freezing injury.
Cold exposure - arms or legs
Frostbite occurs when the skin and body tissues are exposed to cold temperature for a long period of time.
You are more likely to develop frostbite if you:
Symptoms of frostbite may include:
Very severe frostbite may cause:
Frostbite may affect any part of the body. The hands, feet, nose, and ears are the places most prone to the problem.
Call your health care provider if:
Be aware of factors that can contribute to frostbite. These include extreme:
Wear clothing that protects you well against the cold. Protect exposed areas. In cold weather, wear mittens (not gloves); wind-proof, water-resistant, layered clothing; 2 pairs of socks; and a hat or scarf that covers the ears (to avoid heat loss through the scalp).
If you expect to be exposed to the cold for a long period of time, do not drink alcohol or smoke. Make sure to get enough food and rest.
If caught in a severe snowstorm, find shelter early or increase physical activity to maintain body warmth.
Frederick Endorf is a General Surgeon in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Endorf has been practicing medicine for over 22 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Frostbite. He is also highly rated in 2 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Frostbite, Necrotizing Fasciitis, Keloids, and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. He is licensed to treat patients in Minnesota. Endorf is currently accepting new patients.
Ryan Fey is a General Surgeon and an Intensive Care Medicine expert in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fey has been practicing medicine for over 19 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Frostbite. He is also highly rated in 3 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Frostbite, Delirium, Necrotizing Fasciitis, Keloids, and Colostomy. He is licensed to treat patients in Ohio and Minnesota. Fey is currently accepting new patients.
Jon Gayken is a General Surgeon in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Gayken has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Frostbite. He is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Frostbite, Keloids, Necrotizing Fasciitis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, and Hernia Surgery. He is licensed to treat patients in Minnesota. Gayken is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of using sous vide devices for heating and maintaining the circulating warm water bath used in the rewarming of acute frostbite.
Summary: The recent and unexpected occurrence of patients with the development of skin lesions on the hands and/ or feet has been described recently. As these cases occurred contemporaneously with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and as it was the most often occurrence of de novo frostbites, the question raised of whether there is a direct link between the occurrence of these lesions and infection o...
Published Date: November 13, 2021
Published By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Freer L, Handford C, Imray CHE. Frostbite. In: Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS, eds. Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 9.
Manson PN. Management of frostbite, hypothermia, and cold injuries. In: Cameron AM, Cameron JL, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: 1306-1311.
Prendergast HM, Erickson TB. Procedures pertaining to hypothermia and hyperthermia. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 65.
Sawka MN, O'Connor FG. Disorders due to heat and cold. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 101.
Zafren K, Danzl DF. Accidental hypothermia. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 132.
Zafren K, Danzl DF. Frostbite and nonfreezing cold injuries. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 131.