Wilderness: Frostnip or Frostbite

• Frostnip or Frostbite Overview
• Frostnip or Frostbite Symptoms
• Frostnip or Frostbite Treatment
• When to Seek Medical Care
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Frostnip or Frostbite Overview

Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can lead to tissue damage of affected areas. Prolonged exposure is often categorized by the level of freezing and damage that occurs.

Frostnip

Frostnip is a nonfreezing injury of the skin tissues, usually of the fingers, toes, ears, cheeks, and chin. Numbness and tingling are present, but no tissue injury occurs. Symptoms develop when blood vessels supplying the affected tissues narrow because of the cold temperature. Frostnip occurs at temperatures of about 15°C (59°F).

Chilblains

A more significant nonfreezing injury from exposure to cold temperatures is chilblains. As tissue temperature drops below 15°C (59°F), tissue injury progresses. The walls of small blood vessels break, and the tissues swell.

Frostbite

Frostbite is the destruction of body tissues due to freezing (at 0°C or 32°F). Ice crystal formation in the tissues breaks apart cells, thereby destroying the tissues.

Contributory Factors

Factors that may contribute to frostnip, chilblains, or frostbite include dehydration; poor conditioning; wearing wet or tight clothing; malnutrition; altitude; or medical conditions associated with poor circulation, such as diabetes, heart disease, anemia, or sickle cell disease.

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Last Editorial Review: 8/10/2005