Frostbite occurs in periods of damp cold and mainly affects children and adolescents, but also women. Frostbite mainly affects the fingers, toes, ears, cheeks or nose. And for the party to be complete, they can be complicated by crevices or small sensitive bubbles.
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Frostbite or erythema pernio, is characterized by an area of white or grayish-yellow skin, firm to the touch … According to the French Union for Foot Health (UFSP), ” the frostbite appear in the form of red or purplish spots and give pain like burns or itching important “. The cold and the humidity will cause both compression of the small arteries and dilation of small veins. It is this combination that will be at the origin of frostbite.
Prevention and treatment of frostbite
How to protect yourself from it? Of course, avoid exposing yourself to damp cold and washing your hands in cold water. Good gloves, good socks and shoes that are not too tight will protect you. Not too tight in fact, so as not to hinder blood circulation. Finally, it is recommended to massage the risk areas every day.
Too late: do you have frostbite? Ointments with vitamin A or with corticosteroids – only on medical advice in the latter case – may hasten recovery. Consult your pharmacist. If you smoke, now is a good time to quit. Tobacco in fact promotes vasoconstriction. Which as we explained above, promotes frostbite. You can also gradually warm the affected part by dipping it alternately in (not too) hot and (not too) cold water, to stimulate circulation.
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