Frostbite occurs when the fluid in a person's body begins to freeze from exposure to low temperatures. The condition often occurs when temperatures fall to 30 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and in high-altitude locations. The three stages of frostbite include frostnip, superficial frostbite and severe frostbite. Patients who experience severe sensory loss, white or discolored skin, dizziness, fever and other associated symptoms require medical attention. Frostbite effects include both immediate and long-term signs and conditions.
Skin Appearance
The body parts most commonly affected by frostbite are the hands, feet, ears and nose. Skin appears red during the first phase of frostbite, known as frostnip. As the condition worsens, skin turns white or pale yellow. The skin takes on a hard or waxy appearance. Severe cases of frostbite include the formation of blisters. Blisters with a clear fluid often form 24 to 36 hours after warming of the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Clear, fluid-filled blisters indicate a superficial wound. Blisters filled with blood indicate that a deeper, more serious injury has occurred. Thawing of the skin changes its color to a mottled purple or blue. Gangrene occurs when skin tissue does not receive adequate oxygen. The tissue turns dark black and becomes hard, often 24 to 48 hours after rewarming, according to the Mayo Clinic. Still, the full effects of tissue damage are unapparent until several days after the injury, advises the Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals.
Sensation
During the frostnip stage, skin feels extremely cold. As the condition worsens, it causes a prickly, itching or numbing sensation in the affected skin. The area feels extremely cold, and a burning sensation may be present. The most severe stage of frostbite causes the patient to lose all ability to sense cold, pain or discomfort in the affected area. Frostbite may cause a person to walk clumsily because of joint and muscle stiffness.
Long-Term Effects
Long-term effects of frostbite include increased sensitivity to cold weather and the risk of developing frostbite again, reports the Mayo Clinic. The skin tissue may develop permanent nerve damage. The cartilage between the joints may show signs of frostbite arthritis months or years after the initial bout of frostbite, reports Dr. Robert McKendry in the "Canadian Medical Association Journal." Frostbite arthritis occurs in about half of all frostbite victims, McKendry notes; symptoms are similar to those of osteoarthritis. Areas with significant nerve and tissue damage may require amputation, or removal.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Frostbite Symptoms
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Frostbite
- "Canadian Medical Association Journal"; Frostbite Arthritis; Robert J. R. McKendry, M.D., F.R.C.P.; November 1981
- Cleveland Clinic: Frostbite: How to Foil Jack Frost
- Remote Areas Emergency Medicine and Survival: Freezing to Death: Frostbite and Hypothermia
