The 4 degrees of frostbite and what to do to avoid a trip to the hospital

This winter has had absolutely no chill.The US has been experiencing intense, record-setting cold and persistent, widespread snowfall, creating life-threatening conditions in several regions.Hospitals across the country are reporting a surge in cold-related injuries — from slip-and-fall fractures to cardiac events from snow shoveling and frostbite.Frostbite is especially dangerous because the freezing process numbs nerves, preventing people from realizing they are injured until the damage is serious.Dr.Emily R.

Nadelmann — a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the University of Maryland School of Medicine — shares the frostbite signs to beware and the factors that increase your risk of developing it.“Early frostbite often causes intense cold, tingling, burning or sharp pain, which can progress to numbness as skin temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit,” Nadelmann said.“Before rewarming, affected skin may first appear red, then turn waxy white and feel firm or ‘wooden,’ with the full extent of injury becoming clearer after thawing.”First-degree frostbite is characterized by numbness, redness and white or yellow plaques, while second-degree frostbite brings clear or milky blisters.Third-degree frostbite represents severe, deep tissue damage that results in blood-filled blisters.And finally, fourth-degree frostbite extends into subcutaneous fat, muscle and bone, often leading to permanent tissue loss.“Frostbite can occur on any part of the body exposed to extreme cold, but it most often affects the extremities and facial areas, where blood flow is reduced to protect core temperature,” Nadelmann explained.“Hands, feet, cheeks, ears and the nose are particularly vulnerable, with fingers able to freeze at warmer temperatures than the cheeks.”Rapid rewarming is the cornerstone of frostbite treatment, said Nadelmann, who recommends...