Wet socks, wind chill, and frostbite

As temperatures drop and the winter season approaches, it’s time to start bundling up. Wearing appropriate additional clothing layers could prevent serious complications and could save your limbs. Once temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below, prolonged skin exposure to the cold puts you at risk of getting frostbite.

What is frostbite?

Frostbite happens to our skin when we are out in the cold for too long, said Dr. Isha McConkey, DO, family medicine physician for OSF HealthCare, based in Peoria, Illinois. Ice crystals form under the skin, which then damages the skin and cuts off blood flow, she said. This can happen when people spend too much time with skin exposed to the cold or wear inappropriate clothing in freezing conditions.

“The most common way people get frostbite is by leaving skin exposed in very cold weather, or if their skin is wet and it is very cold and/or windy,” she said. “Therefore, you tend to see body parts like fingers, ears, and noses most at risk. It can happen to toes, too, if your shoes aren’t waterproof or it’s cold enough.”

The risk of frostbite increases with wind and wet clothes, or when something frozen or extremely cold touches your skin.

Cleveland Clinic says you can get frostbite in 30 minutes or less when the wind chill is minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Symptoms of frostbite

Cleveland Clinic gives three stages of frostbite:

1. Frostnip: The skin is cold, sore, and painful. It looks red or purple.
2. Superficial frostbite: Skin feels like pins and needles, and you have patches of skin peeling.
3. Severe frostbite: Numbness is experienced, and hard, black skin forms.

How to protect yourself

Frostbite is not as common as it used to be since we have better access to high quality cold-weather gear and protection from extreme weather. Here are some ways to protect your body from frostbite.

• Limit your time outdoors when temperatures drop below freezing and when wind chills are extreme.
• Dress in layers. Cover your hands and feet with waterproof gloves or mittens and boots. Wear warm socks, a thick hat, and a heavy scarf over your face, mouth, and ears.
• Stay dry. If something gets wet, change into something else if possible.
• Avoid tight clothing, which can restrict circulation.
• Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle that includes first aid, food and water, blankets, gloves, and boots so you’re prepared if you have to be out when cold weather is in the forecast.

Common misconceptions

You don’t have to scale a mountain or hike in the arctic to get frostbite. You can be at risk of frostbite anytime the temperatures are below freezing and you’re exposed to it without proper protection.

Because temperatures are colder when there’s wind, your risk of frostbite increases. Even simply walking out in the snow with wet socks or gloves can put you at risk, so aim to stay dry.

Dr. McConkey also said that rubbing the skin does more damage than good.

“It actually makes it worse for your skin by pushing the ice crystals around and causing more damage to the tissue,” she said.

What to do if frostbite occurs

If your fingers or toes feel numb, get inside and warm up.

“I’d suggest warming the affected area with warm, not hot, water,” McConkey said. “You can also use body heat by sticking your hands under your armpits to warm your fingers.”

McConkey again advises against rubbing the skin and said not to place skin near a fire, heating pad, or space heater. That could warm the skin too quickly and cause more damage.

“I know it’s tempting, but if you use high heat on the surface of the skin, the risk is that the top layer warms up faster than the underlying layers can thaw, trapping the ice crystals and causing more damage,” she said. “But if you must warm up by a fire, maintain plenty of distance and keep frostbitten areas far away from the main source of heat so they thaw gradually and safely.”

If you use the safe rewarming method she suggests but find that the skin color is not returning, the sensation is not returning, or blistering is appearing, that’s a good indicator you should seek medical care. Mental status changes like confusion or sleepiness can also occur after prolonged cold exposure, which would also indicate a need to seek professional medical care.

All in all, prevention is key. When you must go outside, stay warm, stay dry, and keep it short.

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes and is not meant as medical advice. The information is not meant to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health professional.