Frostbite is damage to skin and tissue caused by exposure to freezing temperatures – typically any temperature below minus 0.55C (31F).
Frostbite can affect any part of your body. However, the extremities – such as the hands, feet, ears, nose and lips – are most likely to be affected.
The symptoms of frostbite are varied, but usually begin with the affected parts feeling cold and painful. If exposure to the cold continues, you may feel pins and needles before the area becomes numb as the tissues freeze.
The severity of frostbite and how quickly it develops depends on how cold it is and the length of exposure.
The effects of frostbite range from minor tissue damage that fully recovers without treatment to severe tissue loss that requires surgery or even amputation to remove dead tissues.
Read more about the symptoms of frostbite.
If you think you or someone else may have frostbite, call your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for advice.
If the symptoms are more severe, go immediately to your nearest accident and emergency department.
Treating frostbite
It is important that a person with frostbite is taken to a warm environment as soon as it is safe to do so, as they are also likely to have hypothermia. Do not put pressure on the frostbitten area.
The affected area should be re-warmed slowly by immersing it in warm (but not hot) water. However, do this only if there is no possibility of further freezing. If re-warmed tissue becomes frozen again, there will be further tissue damage.
A bath of water at 40-41C (104-105.8F) is recommended for re-warming. This process may be very painful and large amounts of painkillers are often required. Ideally, re-warming should be performed by trained medical professionals.
Read more about treating frostbite.
Preventing frostbite
Almost all cases of frostbite can be prevented by:
- wearing appropriate clothing – multiple layers of warm, loose clothing are better than a single layer
- wearing a weatherproof hat that covers your ears – a surprising amount of heat can be lost through your head
- avoiding unnecessary exposure to cold
- keeping dry – remove any wet clothing
- planning for emergencies – for example making sure you keep a warm blanket and some spare clothes if driving in icy conditions in case you break down
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Who’s at risk of frostbite?
Certain groups of people are at greater risk of getting frostbite. They include:
- people who take part in winter and high-altitude sports, such mountaineers and skiers
- anyone stranded in extreme cold weather conditions
- anyone with a job that means they are outdoors in harsh conditions for a long time, such as soldiers, sailors and rescue workers
- homeless people
- the very young and very old, as their bodies are less able to regulate body temperature
- people with conditions that cause blood vessel damage or circulation problems, such as diabetes and Raynaud’s phenomenon
- anyone taking medications that constrict the blood vessels, including beta blockers (smoking can also constrict the blood vessels)
Many cases of frostbite occur in people who have taken drugs or drunk alcohol and who fall asleep outside in cold weather.
As you would expect, cases of frostbite in England often rise during particularly cold winters. For example, during the very cold winter of 2010–2011, there were 111 hospital admissions for frostbite. In most years, there are only around 30–60 cases every winter.
Read more the causes of frostbite.
Complications
Complications of frostbite can be serious and include:
- a life-threatening drop in body temperature (hypothermia)
- the affected body part becoming particularly vulnerable to infections, such as tetanus
- long-term pain
Read more about the complications of frostbite.
