Frostbite Home Remedies - How to Get Rid of Frostbite

Frostbite is the medical condition. It is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Frostbite is, literally, frozen body tissue. This condition happens when you are exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of skin. Frostbite usually affects areas that are exposed to the cold, such as the cheeks, nose, ears, fingers, and toes, leaving them white and numb. Frostbite can be a very serious cold injury. Frostbite is distinguishable by the hard, pale , and cold quality of the skin that has been exposed to the cold for a length of time. The area is likely to lack sensitivity to touch, although there may be an aching pain. As the area thaws, the flesh becomes red and very painful. Symptoms of frostbite begin with cold numbness over the affected area. After rewarming, a severe throbbing and hyperemia begins, which has been described as lasting for weeks. Finally, many patients complain of paresthesias. Long-term symptoms include cold sensitivity, sensory loss, and hyperhidrosis. Children are at greater risk for frostbite than adults, both because they lose heat from their skin more rapidly than adults and because they may be reluctant to leave their winter fun to go inside and warm up. Person with frostbite on the extremities may also be subject to hypothermia. Hypothermia is dangerously low body temperature, below 95°F (35°C). Hypothermia occurs when more heat is lost than the body can generate. It is usually caused by extended exposure to the cold. The first symptoms are a "pins and needles" sensation followed by numbness. There may be an early throbbing or aching, but later on the affected part becomes insensate (feels like a "block of wood").

Frostbite more risk factors include is using beta-blockers and having conditions such as diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. Several factors can contribute to its development including is length of exposure to cold ,wind chill factor ,humidity in the air ,wetness of clothing, shoes, skin and hair and ingestion of alcohol and other drugs.Frostbite is characterized by white, waxy skin that feels numb and hard. Frostbite severity and resultant tissue injury are a function of both the absolute temperature and the duration of exposure. The damage evoked by frostbite stems from 3 distinct processes-extracellular and intracellular ice crystallization, intracellular dehydration, and arterial insufficiency with intermittent spasm. Initial injury is mediated by extracellular tissue ice crystal formation. These crystals damage the cellular membranes, which initiates the cascade of events resulting in cellular death. As freezing continues, a shift in intracellular water to the extracellular space leads to dehydration and increased intracellular osmolarity and, eventually, to intracellular ice crystal formation. Damage also is caused by a cycle of vascular changes referred to as the hunting reaction, which involves alternating cycles of vasoconstriction and vasodilation. Vasoconstriction with conservation of heat loss maximizes at approximately 15ºC. The most significant damage was created by white clots and fibrin formation with associated microvascular thrombosis, which occurred initially at 5 minutes after rewarming and continued for as long as 1 hour after rewarming.

Home Remedies for Frostbite

• Soak mullein flowers in olive oil for fifteen minutes and apply to frostbitten area.
• Apply garlic oil to the infected area to prevent or help heal infection.
• Drink lobelia extract in water for pain .
• Never rub the frostbiten area it may cause damage to the nerves. Give them room temperture water and set them near a fireplace.
• You can apply aloe vera gel or juice, vitamin E oil or zinc ointment on the blisters to alleviate pain.
• Apply 10 percent tannic acid to the required areas of the skin, twice daily. Continue this for two to three weeks to make your skin stronger and healthier.
• you can apply Vaseline or petroleum jelly all over your feet to avoid any friction.
• You can wear silk under socks to prevent blisters and save yourself from the agonizing pain.