Frostbite looks like a serious heat burn, but it’s actually body tissue that’s frozen and, in severe cases, dead.  Most often, frostbite affect toes, fingers, earlobes, chin, and the tip of the nose.  These body parts are often left uncovered and can freeze quickly.  Danger signs are pain (initially), swelling, white skin, then numbness and eventually loss of function and absence of pain.  Blisters may even develop.

Prevention:

• Layer your clothing.  Many layers of thin clothing are warmer than one bulky layer.  Air spaces trap body warmth close to the skin, insulating the body against the cold.  Wear two or three pairs of socks instead of one heavy pair, for example, and wear roomy shoes.
• Don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes.  Alcohol causes blood to lose heat quickly.  Smoking slows down blood circulation to the extremities.
• Stay indoors as much as possible when it is very cold and windy.
• When you are outside, shield your face or any exposed skin from the wind.

Self-Care Tips:

• Warm the affected area by soaking in a tub of warm water (101°F to 104°F) and an antiseptic solution.
• Stop when the affected area becomes red, not when sensation returns.  (This should take about 45 minutes.  If done too rapidly, thawing can be painful and blisters may develop.)
• Keep exposed area elevated.
• Never massage a frostbitten area.
• Protect exposed area from the cold.  It is more sensitive to re-injury.

Source:  American Institute of Preventive Medicine.