Cold Weather and your FEET-Frostbite

These frigid temperatures can be very dangerous to the feet. It is important to wear warm socks and boots when outside, and also, it is essential to limit your time outside. Frostbite usually affects structures that are on the outside areas of the body and that are smaller like the toes. Additionally, the toes are the furthest away from the heart, which puts them at greater risk. With frostbite, the blood vessels become constricted and smaller, so blood, nutrients, and oxygen cannot be delivered to the area as they are normally. The skin and deeper areas can become frozen, resulting in tingling, numbness, pain, blistering, discoloration, itching, hardening, and swelling. It is essential to get to a safe, warm environment immediately and to seek medical attention if you have symptoms or concerns about having frostbite. The frostbitten area should be slowly rewarmed in warm (not hot) water. It is essential that the areas not be rubbed, as this may cause further break down of the skin. It is necessary to remove any jewelry from the areas, if possible. Patients may need IV fluids, medications for pain, a tetnus shot, and hospital admission due to the frostbite and possible hypothermia. Blisters or open sores will need to be treated by a wound care specialist. Occasionally, tissues that are deeply damaged will require amputation or other surgeries. However, many patients recover from this condition with side effects of sensitivity to cold, prolonged pain and/or numbness of the areas.