Frostbite is caused by cold and moisture and mainly affects the hands and feet. It is a skin lesion that can be very painful but is safe provided it is well treated. In case of complications, it is better to consult a doctor to treat frostbite.

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How to recognize frostbite?

Frostbite occurs with the cold associated with moisture, so mainly in winter, and affects the feet and hands, and more rarely, the face. They take the form of skin inflammations and crevices. Redness appears, then swelling of the affected limbs as well as burning sensations and severe itching.

Frostbite primarily affects the feet and hands, sometimes the nose and ears, because because of the narrowing of the blood vessels due to the cold, these are the parts of the body that are least supplied with blood. They, therefore, cool faster than the rest of the body and become a breeding ground for the appearance of frostbite. Blood sent by the brain to warm the cooled limbs struggles to pass into the narrowed vessels and ends up damaging them. It is at this time that the symptoms of frostbite appear.

How to cure frostbite?

Frostbite should be treated with caution and especially not be exposed to a source of heat abruptly. The first thing to do is gently warm the part of the skin affected by frostbite by surrounding it with a warm damp cloth for about 10 minutes. The affected areas can also be immersed in 35-degree water with the addition of two tablespoons per liter of hydrogen peroxide. If the affected area is at the level of the hands, the latter can be gently warmed under the armpits.

Frostbite sometimes causes very intense itching but it is important not to scratch so as not to cause wounds on the skin, also called ulcers. Such itching can be calmed by applying fatty, vitamin A-rich creams.

No treatment exists to really cure frostbite quickly. In any case, and especially if the pain is too intense and the lesions very extensive, a visit to the doctor is necessary. The latter can prescribe painkillers and drugs to dilate blood vessels and thus help in the healing of frostbite. On the other hand, when the Frostbite is deep, that is, the skin is white and insensitive, hospitalization is necessary to treat the lesion.

How to avoid frostbite?

Frostbite is caused by the cold associated with moisture. To protect from it, it is necessary to wear suitable gloves or socks that, on the one hand, insulate well from the cold and, on the other, keep these parts of the body warm well. To avoid frostbite, especially on the feet, care should be taken not to wear socks or shoes that are too tight. Compressed feet are indeed more sensitive to cold. The thickness, nature, and impermeability of the soles of the shoes also contribute a lot to avoid frostbite.

In the prevention of frostbite, and especially for people most at risk, it is important to tone your circulatory system upstream. This is possible naturally by taking for example regularly, and before the cold period, alternating hot and cold baths. Preventive treatment with vitamins D or a can also help prevent frostbite in those most at risk.

Risk factors for the occurrence of frostbite

People with poor blood circulation are more exposed to frostbite, as are those with Raynaud's syndrome. Taking certain medications can also promote the occurrence of frostbite. This is the case with vasoconstrictors, drugs to reduce the caliber of blood vessels, beta-blockers that slow down and strengthen the contractions of the heart, or some antidepressants. Endocrine disorders, deficiency of vitamins B1, PP, A or P, can also be favorable grounds for the occurrence of frostbite.

A person who has already suffered frostbite a year is more likely to be faced with this health problem again afterward. She must therefore apply all prevention advice to the letter to avoid frostbite.