Nonfreezing Tissue Injuries

Frostnip is an injury in which your skin gets so cold that it turns numb, swollen, and red.

• Treat frostnip by warming the area for a few minutes

• The area will hurt and itch as it warms up

• Sometimes, the area may be sensitive to cold for a long time after

Immersion foot is an injury from being in wet, cold socks or shoes for several days. It's sometimes called trench foot.

• Your foot gets pale, damp, swollen, numb, and cold

• To treat immersion foot, gently warm, dry, and elevate your foot

• Your foot will become red and painful as it warms, and you may get blisters

• For weeks after, your foot may be very sensitive and sweaty

• Doctors may give antibiotics to prevent infection

Prevent immersion foot by:

• Wearing shoes and boots that fit well

• Changing your socks daily

• Keeping your feet dry

Chilblains (Pernio) (Finger)

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© Springer Science+Business Media

Chilblains are places on your skin where you get itching, pain, redness, or swelling from being out in dry cold weather.

• Chilblains are uncommon but not serious

• You get itching, pain, redness, and sometimes blisters, usually on your fingers or the fronts of your legs

• Treat chilblains by staying out of the cold

• Avoiding nicotine may help treat and prevent chilblains, because nicotine slows down blood flow