How to Prevent, Recognize and Treat Frostbite

You know the feeling – that latest storm cycle dropped at least 12” and you can’t wait to get first tracks; the Nordic course is perfectly groomed and calling your name; your pup really wants to go play in the snow, or friends are heading into the backcountry for a few untouched laps. It’s a magical time of year, but one that comes with a variety of weather and snow conditions that can lead to frostbite.

With Jack Frost blowing in freezing temperatures, snowstorms and blustery winter conditions, now is a good time to learn more about how you can get frostbite, how to prevent it, how to recognize it, and the best approach for treatment.

The Signs and Stages of Frostbite

Frostnip

If you’ve ever taken off your ski boots and found that your toes are numb before slowly warming with a tingly feeling, you might be experiencing the first stage of frostbite, known as frostnip. This early warning sign is simply that and doesn’t result in any permanent damage. Symptoms of frostnip can include numbness, painful tingling as the skin warms, and pale or red skin. While frostnip doesn’t result in any lasting damage, it can lead to more serious conditions if it goes untreated. In short, if you can’t feel your toes while you’re riding up the chairlift, it’s time to head into the lodge and warm them up. 

Superficial frostbite

In the next stage, superficial frostbite can cause changes to skin color, resulting in red or pale-looking skin, which means something more significant than frostnip is happening. While the area might feel warm, the skin will actually be cold to the touch. If you start rewarming your skin at this point, it can sting, burn and swell, sometimes resulting in a fluid blister 12 to 36 hours later. 

Deep frostbite

Think the gray or black skin of climbers after being stranded on a snowy mountain peak. This late-stage frostbite affects all layers of the skin, including deeper tissues. Essentially, the skin begins to die. During this stage, the skin will feel numb and even hard and waxy. Joints and muscles might also become stiff, and large blisters might begin to form 24 to 48 hours after you’ve begun rewarming the affected tissue. 

How cold does it have to be to get frostbite?

Typically, single-digit Fahrenheit temperatures are when people start to experience the early stages of frostbite. Other factors to consider are wind and wind chill. When the temperature drops below zero degrees Fahrenheit, it doesn’t take long to get frostbite – sometimes only half an hour. 

 

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