What should you treat frostbite with

Don't break any blisters. Warm the frostbitten parts in warm not hot water for about 30 minutes. Place clean cotton balls between frostbitten fingers and toes after they've been warmed. Loosely wrap warmed areas with clean bandages to prevent refreezing.

Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. This includes:. Frostbite can look like a burn injury. Second-degree superficial frostbite affects the top layers of the skin.

In any suspected case of frostbite, you should get immediate medical attention. Professional and timely medical evaluation and treatment of frostbite is critical, as it can be difficult to tell how much damage has been done to the surrounding tissues. In third-degree cases, thrombolytic therapy may be used to break up blood clots to help reduce the risk of amputation from severe tissue damage. The extent of tissue damage may not be evident for weeks, so you may need follow-up appointments to monitor the injured area.

You should only work to treat frostbite if getting to a hospital right away is not possible. Do not attempt to thaw frostbitten skin if there is a possibility it could freeze again.

Never rub or massage frostbitten tissue. Rubbing frostbitten tissue will result in more severe damage. Patients cannot feel the frostbitten tissue and can be burned easily. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Frostbite: spectrum of imaging findings and guidelines for management. Fudge J. Preventing and managing hypothermia and frostbite injury. Back to Frostbite. Treatment for frostbite depends on the severity of your symptoms. Always get medical attention if you think you or someone else has frostbite.

If you're unable to move, call to ask for an ambulance. If medical assistance isn't available, the following steps can be taken to treat frostbite and hypothermia :. Read more about treating hypothermia. The frostbitten areas need to be rewarmed. Rewarming shouldn't be attempted until you're out of the cold. If the warming process is started and the frozen parts are then re-exposed to the cold, it can cause further, irreversible damage.

Rewarming should ideally be carried out under medical supervision — it can be a painful process requiring painkillers and expert medical assessment.

The best results are achieved using a whirlpool bath that contains a mild antiseptic. The affected area should be rewarmed slowly by immersing it in warm, but not hot, water. Protect your skin from further damage. If there's any chance the affected areas will freeze again, don't thaw them. If they're already thawed, wrap them up so that they don't refreeze. If you're outside, warm frostbitten hands by tucking them into your armpits.

Protect your face, nose or ears by covering the area with dry, gloved hands. Don't rub the affected skin with snow or anything else. And don't walk on frostbitten feet or toes if possible. Gently rewarm frostbitten areas. Soak frostbitten fingers, toes or other extremities in warm water — to F about 40 to 43 C. If a thermometer isn't available, test the water by placing an uninjured hand or elbow in it — it should feel very warm, not hot. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes or until the skin becomes its normal color or loses its numbness.

For the face or ears, apply a warm, wet washcloth.