Frostbite – causes, symptoms & therapy

Frostbite

Frostbite is an unpleasant, but mostly harmless and self-healing inflammation of the skin, which is caused by cold, damp weather and poor blood circulation. Areas of the body with weaker blood supply, such as the extremities, are particularly susceptible to frostbite.

What are frostbite?

Frostbite, also referred to in medicine as perniones, is tissue injury (inflammation and swelling ) caused by damp cold, which, however, is not, as the name suggests, real frostbite and does not form bumps in the classic sense.

Strictly speaking, chilblains belong to the circulatory disorders ; like frostbite, they typically occur on fingers, toes, nose and ears, i.e. the parts of the body with poor blood circulation.

causes

Frostbite typically develops in poor circulation coupled with cold, damp weather. Unlike frostbite, frostbite occurs primarily in the fall and spring. Peripheral blood vessels become constricted, which combined with the cold, leads to tissue damage.Due to the cold, the blood vessels in the extremities and tips of the body become increasingly constricted. If the body cannot compensate for this, for example because there is already insufficient blood flow to these areas of the body, there is an acute lack of oxygen in the cells in these tissues.

The tissue is damaged by the lack of oxygen and an inflammatory process is set in motion. Frostbite can either occur acutely, i.e. immediately after exposure to cold, or become chronic if exposure to damp cold occurs repeatedly.

When to the doctor?

Normally, a doctor’s visit is not necessary for frostbite. If no further symptoms occur, the person concerned can wait for the self-healing process without hesitation. Medically, frostbite is nothing to worry about. Wear loose clothing. Tight-fitting garments should be avoided entirely.

If additional symptoms are present, however, a doctor’s visit must be made. Frostbite is an indication of circulatory disorders. If frostbite occurs repeatedly, it should therefore be checked what is causing the blood flow disorders. A wrong posture or movements that lead to an interruption of the blood circulation can be the causes. In severe cases, there is a blockage within the blood vessels. If left untreated, it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. It is therefore necessary to see a doctor as soon as a feeling of tension in the body sets in or numbness occurs on the skin.

If the frostbite spreads over the body or if the healing process takes more than 2 weeks, it is advisable to consult a doctor. If pain occurs, if there is itching or if there are optical problems that are stressful, a doctor should be consulted. Open wounds also require a doctor’s visit. Germs can get into the organism through the wounds and cause diseases.

symptoms and course

In the vast majority of cases, frostbite is harmless and will heal on its own within one to three weeks. Despite their relative harmlessness, frostbite can be very uncomfortable. When it gets warm, it causes severe itching , which can also be painful. Typically, chilblains are round, red to blue-violet inflammations of the skin. Because of the inflammation, the skin around the chilblains tends to swell, causing fluid to build up in the tissues . Those affected typically feel a dull pressure on the affected areas. If the chilblains cannot heal properly, scarring can occur.

Diagnose

The diagnosis of frostbite is made by a medical examination of the affected parts of the body and the description of the symptoms by the patient. The doctor pays attention to clearly defined, rounded inflammation of the skin on the characteristic parts of the body, such as the extremities and body tips. The doctor also pays attention to whether typical symptoms are present. These include, in particular, itching when heated and the sensation of pressureat the respective places. If there was also prolonged exposure to damp cold, a diagnosis can be made quickly. No other diagnostic tools are required for this. If frostbite occurs repeatedly or if this inflammation even becomes chronic, this indicates a general circulatory disorder, but it can also be an indication of another disease. In these cases, further investigations must be initiated in order to track down the root problem.

complications

While a patient is suffering from frostbite, perniones, various complications can arise. If these are recognized early, it is possible in most cases to counteract them with medication. Since frostbite is also an inflammation of the skin, the healing process in particular can be lengthy and characterized by complications. In many cases, it can be observed with frostbite that the specific skin inflammation caused by it does not properly subside. Anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics can therefore speed up the healing process for frostbite. Normally, a frostbite should heal within a few days without complications, but unfortunately this is not always the case.

If the typical skin changes caused by frostbite do not go away significantly within a few days, this can also indicate a circulatory disorder, a complication that is not uncommon. This must be treated by a doctor, otherwise the necrotic tissue in the deeper layers of the skin can become inflamed or even die. In addition to these skin-specific complications, general symptoms can also occur with chilblains. These complications are usually flu-like symptoms such as fever , runny nose or cough. If left untreated or if the immune system is weakened, it can also lead to pneumonia as the disease progressescome. This dangerous complication of frostbite should also be treated early and makes a doctor’s visit essential.

treatment and therapy

In the vast majority of cases, no drug treatment for frostbite is required. It is particularly important to keep affected areas dry and warm and to ensure that blood vessels are not constricted by tight-fitting clothing. In more severe cases, a drug that stimulates blood flow may need to be used. Calcium channel blockers have proven to be effective here, they have a vasodilating effect and ensure a rapid reduction in symptoms. If the itching is severe and painful, antihistamines can also be administered.

In the case of severe inflammation, anti-inflammatory ointments or gels (anti-inflammatory drugs) are used. There are also special bath additives that promote healing. Every now and then, a light massage of the surrounding tissue can also be perceived as pleasant; this measure is particularly effective if there is a strong feeling of pressure in the affected areas.

prevention

In order to prevent frostbite, the first thing to do is not to expose yourself to the appropriate weather conditions. However, if this is not possible, there are some preventive measures that can be taken.Before venturing out in cold, damp weather for any length of time, it is a good idea to ensure that no clothing is impeding blood circulation; This can be constricting socks, a belt, shoes that are too small or a watch that is too tight.

It is particularly important to protect the parts of the body that are already poorly supplied with blood from further circulatory disorders. In addition, frostbite can be effectively prevented if attention is paid to protection against moisture and warm clothing. If there is already a circulatory disorder, the circulation can be stimulated by various measures, such as alternating showers.

Rapid changes in temperature can also facilitate the formation of frostbite. Eating a healthy diet and not drinking alcohol before going out in the cold are other effective ways to prevent frostbite as much as possible.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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