Frostnip is a mild form of frostbite that does not cause any tissue loss.
When skin is exposed to temperatures a little below the freezing point it can take several hours to freeze. Colder temperatures can cause the skin to freeze within minutes or seconds. Several factors like a strong wind,moisture,and ,wind speed all have an affect on how cold the skin can become.
Strong winds lower the temperature of the skin considerable by dispersing the layer of warm air that surrounds our bodies.The evaporation of moisture on the skin as well as wet clothing readily draws heat from the skin, because of these reasons it is possible to suffer from frostnip or frostbite even when the temperature is above freezing |
| The most commonly affected areas are the nose,cheeks,ears,fingers and toes. After prolonged exposure to the cold your body sends signals to the blood vessels in your extremities telling them to constrict. This is done in order to allow more blood to go to the vital organs keeping them supplied with critical nutrients. It also prevents future decrease in core body temperature by exposing less blood to the cold. |
Symptoms of frostbite start with the first degree called frostnip. It only affects the surface layer of skin which freezes. On the onset itching and pain starts than the skin turns,white,red,and yellow and becomes numb.Normally no permanent damage happens but long term insensitivity to both heat and cold can sometimes occur afterwords. Second degree frostbite happens when the skin continues to freeze. Deep tissues are not affect and remain functional. Second degree frost bite blisters after one to 2 days after freezing becoming hard and black. Most second degree frostbite injuries heal after a month. The area may become permanently insensitive to the heat and cold. |
As the freezing continues deep frostbite happens. Muscles,tendons,blood vessels and nerves will freeze. The skin turns hard and takes on a waxy feel. There is no longer any function in the area temporarily. In severe cases it is lost permanently.The affected area blisters which can turn purplish to black in color. The blisters are usually blood filled.Loss of feeling occurs due to nerve damage and can result in the affected area being amputated. If left untreated affected area may fall off. |
2 Wear mittens, it keeps your fingers together providing better warmth. 3 Wearing two layers of socks with the inner layer being made of a synthetic fiber like polypropylene to wick water away from the skin. The outter layer should be something like wool to proved inscreased insulation. Waterproof shoes will help decrease heat lose from the feet. 4 Keep your head,face,nose,and neck covered at all times. Keeping the jugular vain warm will help proved warm blood to the brain. |