Home Remedies For Frozen Skin

Here's what to do -- and what not to do -- if you suspect that you are developing frostbite:

Watch for the warning signs. The sooner you notice the symptoms of frostbite, and the faster you take measures to rewarm the areas, the better the outlook for recovery. The skin may first start to tingle, as ice crystals begin forming in the tissues. Then pain develops, accompanied by redness, burning, itching, and swelling. If exposure to cold continues, numbness sets in, the pain decreases, and the skin becomes whiter and waxy looking. At this stage, immediate action is necessary to prevent gangrene, or death of skin tissue.

Warm up the right way. If you become frostbitten, don't run to the nearest radiator, hot stove, or roaring fire. Ironically, you could end up burning yourself, since you may not be able to feel intense heat with frostbitten skin. For the same reason, do not use a heat lamp, hot-water bottle, or heating pad to warm up. Submerging the affected extremity in a sink or basin full of warm water (104 to no more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit) is the safest way to treat the frostbite. Once your fingers or toes are warmed up, very gently wiggle them to increase the circulation to the area. You can usually warm up frostbitten ears or a frostbitten nose simply by coming in from the cold to a warm room. If not, gently apply warm compresses to the affected area. Do not rub the delicate tissue.

Warm up rapidly. Frostbite can be serious business, resulting in gangrene or loss of a limb in extreme cases. Experts have found that rewarming the frostbitten area as quickly as possible -- using the warm-water technique described in the previous remedy -- not only reduces the risk of these complications but seems to speed up healing. The downside is that this rapid rewarming may initially cause more pain, redness, and swelling and result in bigger blisters. The payoff: A mild to moderate case of frostbite should heal in about a week or two.

Don't thaw and then refreeze. Thawing and then refreezing a frostbitten area can cause even more damage, so if you cannot keep the injured area warm, it may be best to postpone rewarming until you are safely out of the cold.

Stay as warm and dry as possible. Even if your clothes are dry, they may be cold enough to keep you from warming up. Clothing that is wet depletes heat even more and should be removed. However, if you are out in the cold with no chance of getting to a warm place quickly, your better bet may be to just add layers of warmth to what you already have on.

Huddle with a buddy. A friend's body heat will help warm you up.

Drink plenty of fluids. Sipping warm or tepid fluids may make you feel better and, more importantly, will keep you from getting dehydrated, which can make your frostbite worse. (Becoming dehydrated also makes you more susceptible to frostbite in the first place.) Do not, however, eat snow. And stay away from alcoholic beverages, which actually encourage fluid loss.

Elevate the affected area. This minimizes edema, or swelling, of the affected area. It's important to do this because swelling can interfere with proper circulation, which is necessary for proper healing.

Don't use snow. Frostbitten skin is ultra-sensitive, so rubbing it with snow (as an old wive's tale callS for) could cause damage that leads to gangrene.

Don't rub or massage the frostbitten area. This will also cause further damage to the skin tissues.

Keep off your feet. If possible, don't walk on your frostbitten toes. As with any frostbitten area, they need to be immobilized for proper healing.

Keep your toes or fingers apart. Frostbitten toes and fingers may stick together as they blister and heal. Use sterile gauze to separate the affected digits.

Try this solution for blisters. During the thawing process, blisters may develop and persist for weeks. If this occurs, mix Burow's solution (available without a prescription in packets and tablets at pharmacies) and warm water (between 104 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit) according to the package directions, and apply the solution to the blisters with wet compresses for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours until the blisters begin to dry up.

In our next section, we'll warm your heart with some tips to avoid getting frostbite in the first place.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.