More Natural Remedies

Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissues caused by exposure to extreme cold. When the body is subjected to very cold temperatures, the body automatically restrict blood flow to internal areas of the body is trying to keep its core warm, and blood vessels begin narrowing down in the parts of the body that are farthest from the heart, such as the toes, fingers, nose, ears, and whole limbs.

The first symptoms are usually felt as “pins and needles” sensation followed by numbness in the affected areas. There may be an early throbbing or aching pain, but later on the affected body parts become numbed.

The tissue that is not getting blood circulation begins to die and usually leads to infection that only be remedied with amputation of the affected parts. Frostbitten skin looks pale and is cold, hard, and numb. The skin may look like a frozen piece of meat. The affected area is likely to lack sensitivity to touch, although there may be throbbing pain.

As the skin is thawed and warmed, it may turn blue or purple, like a bad bruise, and may look like it has been burned and may be covered with blisters, and very painful.
If you discover you have frostbite, treat it immediately. If left untreated for even a short time, frostbite can lead to permanent damage to muscles, blood vessel, nerve and bone in the affected body parts and gangrene can follow. This may require amputation of the affected parts to stop the spread of the disease.

Preventing frostbite is essential if you are planning on spending time in the cold. Be aware of factors that can lead to frostbite, such as extreme cold, wet clothes, high winds, and poor circulation. Tight clothing, fatigue, certain medications, smoking, alcohol use, or diseases that affect the blood vessels, such as diabetes, can contribute to poor circulation.
When going out in cold weather, wear suitable clothing and dress in layers and be sure exposed areas such as your nose, ears, fingers, toes, and head stay warm. If you expect to be exposed to the cold for a long period of time, don’t drink alcohol or smoke, and make sure you get enough food and rest.

Treating frostbite is a delicate procedure and should be done with care to decrease the risk of causing further damage to the area. Chances are that a person affected with frostbite on the extremities may also be suffering from hypothermia or extreme low body temperature. Check for hypothermia and treat those symptoms first. If possible, the patient should take a pain reliever because it will be painful when the areas begin to thaw.
Here are the steps to take to stop frostbite damage if immediate medical help is not available:

Remove and protect the person from the cold and move him or her to a warmer place as quickly as possible. Check for signs of hypothermia and provide treatment for that first.

Remove any constricting jewelry and wet clothing. Thaw and rewarm the area as quickly as possible but safely. The process will be painful so have the pain relievers available. Water conducts heat better than air so place the affected area in water that is warm but not hot. The recommended water temperature is 104 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain the warming process for 25-40 minutes. Keep the water temperature constant by gradually adding warm water as the water cools. Avoid adding warm water directly over the affected area. Warming is complete when the skin is soft and regains sensation. Keep movements to the thawed areas as little as possible. Do not rub or massage the affected area.

Never allow the frostbitten areas to refreeze. Do not thaw out a frostbitten area if it cannot be kept thawed. Refreezing may make tissue damage even worse. This leads to more tissue damage because water crystals are bigger when they refreeze. If you keep the rest of your body warm, do not allow the frostbitten part to thaw if you know you must go back into the cold again. It is important not to walk on a foot or toes that have been frostbitten. But if your feet are frostbitten and you feel you will need to walk out of danger, do not take off your shoe or boot. If you are in a sleeping bag to keep warm, keep your boot or shoes on and let you feet stick out of the sleeping bag.

Use your own body heat to thaw out or rewarm frostbitten parts. If your fingers are affected, place them under your armpits. Curl up in a ball as much as possible to preserve heat and tuck the affected site as close to the warmth of your body as you can. Get out of direct wind, and don’t keep the affect area dry. Rubbing the area with snow is not recommended. Snow can be abrasive and causes more tissue damage to the frostbitten area.

Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages during recovery as both can interfere with blood circulation. Drinking alcohol may give you a false sense of warmth in the body but will not warm the affected area. Alcohol can actually causes more heat loss.

Frostbite can hit anyone, Seek medical help as soon as possible id you suspend you have frostbite. It is not something to be taken lightly. Frostbite is a crippling injury that can lead to the loss of fingers, toes, nose, ears, or even a whole limb. Knowing the common sense preventive practices, symptoms, and emergency treatment, can lower the risk of you getting frostbite.