Frostbite  
Back to Index

 
          
This Care Guide Covers:

  • Frostbite is a cold injury to the skin

View First Aid Advice
  • Advice for Frostbite:
  • For frostbite of fingers or toes.
  • For frostbite of the face
  • Advice for Frostbite During Transport to a Medical Facility
  • Advice for Hypothermia:

When to Call Your Doctor

Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If
  • Can't wake up
  • Slurred speech
  • Acts or talks confused
  • Stumbling or falling
  • Body temperature is less than 95° F (35° C) rectally
  • Body temperature is less than 94° F (34.4° C) by mouth
  • You think your child has a life-threatening emergency
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
  • You think your child has a serious injury
  • White, hard, numb skin (before rewarming)
  • Skin color and feeling does not return to normal after 1 hour of rewarming
  • Severe shivering still present after re-warming and drying
  • Severe pain still there after rewarming and taking pain medicine
  • You think your child needs to be seen urgently
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
  • You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently
  • Frostbite part gets blisters
  • Blisters start to look infected (spreading redness or pus)
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
  • You have other questions or concerns
Parent Care at Home If
  • Mild frostbite
Causes & Health Information

Symptoms

Cause

Frostbite Severity - Frostbite can be classified like burns:

Hypothermia

Factors Leading to Frostbite

CARE ADVICE FOR MILD FROSTBITE

  1. What You Should Know:
    • Frostbite means the nerves and skin were frozen for a short time.
    • Most frostbite is mild. Most often, it gets better with warming up.
    • Here is some care advice that should help.
  2. Rewarming - Rewarm the skin fast with wet heat:  
    • Move into a warm room.
    • For Frostbite of Fingers or Toes. Place the body part in warm water. A bathtub or sink is often the best method. The water should be very warm (104° to 108° F, or 40° to 42° C). It should not be hot enough to burn. Keep soaking in the warm water for about 30 minutes. A pink flush means circulation has returned to the body part. At this point, the numbness should be gone.
    • For Frostbite of the Face (such as ears, nose). Put a warm wet washcloth on the area. You should keep doing this for about 30 minutes. A pink flush means circulation has returned to the area.
    • With more severe frostbite, the last 10 minutes of rewarming can be painful.
    • If not using a tub, keep the rest of your child's body warm. Cover with blankets.
  3. Common Treatment Mistakes:
    • A common mistake is to put snow on the frostbitten area or to rub it. Both can cause damage to thawing tissues.
    • Do not re-warm with dry heat. Do not use heat lamps, heating pads or electric heaters. Reason: Skin that has frostbite can't sense burning.
    • Do not re-warm if could freeze again in the next few hours. Freezing-warming-freezing causes more harm than freezing-warming.
  4. Drink Warm Liquids:
    • Have your child drink lots of warm liquids such as hot chocolate.
  5. Ibuprofen:
    • For true frostbite, give ibuprofen for pain relief. (See Dose Table).
  6. Aloe Vera Ointment:
    • Put aloe vera ointment on the frostbite.
    • Use twice daily for 5 days.
  7. What to Expect:
    • Frostnip does not cause any damage to the skin. After rewarming, skin feeling, color and softness come back in less than 1 hour.
    • Mild frostbite: After rewarming, the skin may be flushed and tingly. This lasts for a few hours.
  8. Prevention of Frostbite: (especially important in children with previous frostbite)
    • Cold sensitivity and recurrent frostbite is common following severe frostbite.
    • Dress in layers for cold weather. The first layer should be thermal underwear. The outer layer needs to be waterproof. The layers should be loose, not tight. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Do not use tight gloves or shoes. They might interfere with circulation.
    • Wear a hat, because over 50% of heat loss occurs from the head.
    • Change wet gloves or socks right away.
    • Teach your child to know the first warning signs of frostbite. Tingling and numbness are signs to go indoors.
  9. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Color and feeling do not return to normal after 1 hour of re-warming
    • Frostbite gets blisters
    • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.


Author and Senior Reviewer: Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.

Last Reviewed: 9/1/2012

Last Revised: 1/13/2013

Content Set: Child Symptom Checker

Copyright 1994-2012 Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.