Overview
Frostbite is when skin and underlying tissues freeze after being exposed to very cold temperatures. It causes a cold feeling followed by numbness. As the frostbite gets worse, the affected skin may change color and become hard or waxy-looking.
The areas most likely to be affected are the fingers, toes, ears, cheeks, chin and tip of the nose.
When to seek emergency help
Seek emergency care for:
- Intense pain even after taking a pain reliever and rewarming.
- Intense shivering.
- Slurred speech.
- Drowsiness.
- Trouble walking.
- Suspected hypothermia. Symptoms of hypothermia are intense shivering, drowsiness, confusion, fumbling hands and slurred speech.
Treatment
You can treat mild frostbite (frostnip) yourself. All other frostbite requires medical attention. First-aid steps for frostbite are as follows:
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Protect your skin from further damage. If there's any chance the affected areas will freeze again, don't thaw them. If they're already thawed, wrap them up so that they don't refreeze.
If you're outside, warm frostbitten hands by tucking them into your armpits. Protect your face, nose or ears by covering the area with dry, gloved hands.
- Get out of the cold, remove wet clothes and wrap up in a warm blanket.
- Gently rewarm frostbitten areas. If possible, soak the skin with frostbite in a tub or sink of warm water for about 30 minutes. For frostbite on the nose or ears, cover the area with warm, wet cloths for about 30 minutes.
- Drink a warm, nonalcoholic beverage.
- Take a nonprescription pain reliever if needed.
- Remove rings or other tight items. Do this before the injured area swells with rewarming.
What to avoid
- Don't rub the affected skin with snow or anything else.
- Don't walk on frostbitten feet or toes if possible.
- Don't rewarm frostbitten skin with direct heat, such as a stove, heat lamp, fireplace or heating pad. This can cause burns.
- Don’t drink alcohol.
- Don't apply direct heat. For example, don't warm the skin with a heating pad, a heat lamp, a blow-dryer or a car heater.
Show References
- AskMayoExpert. Frostbite. Mayo Clinic; 2018.
- Frostbite. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/frostbite.html. Accessed July 16, 2020.
- Thompson DA. Frostbite. In: Adult Telephone Protocols: Office Version. 4th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2019.
- Frostbite. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/cold-injury/frostbite. Accessed July 16, 2020.
- Walls RM, et al., eds. Hypothermia, frostbite and nonfreezing cold injuries. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 12, 2023.
- Leikin JB, et al., eds. Frostbite. In: American Medical Association Handbook of First Aid and Emergency Care. Rev. ed. Random House; 2013.
- Schmitt BD. Frostbite and cold exposure. In: Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version. 17th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2021.
- Prevent hypothermia and frostbite. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/hypothermia.html. Accessed April 1, 2024.
- Buttaravoli P, et al., eds. Frostnip, frostbite, and mild hypothermia. In: Minor Emergencies. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 12, 2022.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-frostbite/basics/art-20056653