frostbite
Sign in to saveFrostbite is an injury to skin or other living tissue that is allowed to freeze, especially affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Most often, frostbite occurs in the hands and feet, often preceded by frostnip, a paling or reddening of a body part as its blood vessels constrict that tingles, feels very cold, or simply feels numb. This may be followed by the clumsiness and white or bluish, waxy-looking skin that evidence full-blown frostbite. Swelling or blistering may occur following treatment. Complications may include hypothermia or compartment syndrome.
AI overview
Frostbite is an injury that occurs when skin or living tissue freezes, commonly affecting extremities like fingers, toes, and facial features, and can progress from initial numbness and pale skin to white or bluish, waxy-looking tissue. It matters because it can lead to serious complications such as hypothermia or compartment syndrome, and may cause lasting damage including swelling or blistering even after treatment.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Frostbite
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Frostnip
- Medical condition (new).image
- Frost bite.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- Frostbitten toes two to three days after mountain climbing
- Medical condition (new).field
- Dermatology, emergency medicine, orthopedics
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Numbness, feeling cold, clumsiness, pale color
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Hypothermia, compartment syndrome
- Medical condition (new).types
- Superficial, deep
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Temperatures below freezing
- Medical condition (new).risks
- Alcohol, smoking, mental health problems, certain medications, prior cold injury
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
- Based on symptoms
Article
26 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- First degree
- Second degree
- Third degree
- Fourth degree
- Causes
- Risk factors
- Mechanism
- Freezing
- Rewarming
- Non-freezing cold injury
- Pathophysiology
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Rewarming
- Medications
- Surgery
- Prognosis
- Grades
- Epidemiology
- History
- Society and culture
- Research directions
- References
- External links
Frostbite is an injury to skin or other living tissue that is allowed to freeze, especially affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Most often, frostbite occurs in the hands and feet, often preceded by frostnip, a paling or reddening of a body part as its blood vessels constrict that tingles, feels very cold, or simply feels numb. This may be followed by the clumsiness and white or bluish, waxy-looking skin that evidence full-blown frostbite. Swelling or blistering may occur following treatment. Complications may include hypothermia or compartment syndrome.
People who are exposed to low temperatures for prolonged periods, such as winter sports enthusiasts, military personnel, and the homeless, are at greatest risk. Other risk factors include drinking alcohol, smoking, mental health problems, certain medications, and prior injuries due to cold. The underlying mechanism involves injury from ice crystals and blood clots in small blood vessels following thawing. Diagnosis is based on symptoms. Severity may be divided into superficial (first and second degree) and deep (third and fourth degree). A bone scan or MRI may help in determining the extent of injury.