Frostbite
A cold-weather injury in which skin and underlying tissue freeze.
What is Frostbite? A cold-weather injury in which skin and underlying tissue freeze.
Frostbite occurs when skin and underlying tissue freeze due to prolonged cold exposure. Mild cases (frostnip) cause numbness, redness, and tingling and recover with rewarming. Severe cases cause permanent tissue damage and can require amputation. At 0°F with no wind, frostbite can occur in 30 minutes on exposed skin. At -20°F with 20 mph wind, in 5-10 minutes. Cover all exposed skin in severe cold.
Recognising Frostbite
- Numbness in affected skin
- White, waxy, or grey-yellow skin appearance
- Hardness or firmness in the frozen tissue
- Burning or tingling sensation as skin rewarms
Risk factors
- Air temperature below 32°F (0°C)
- Wind chill below 0°F (-18°C)
- Exposed skin without insulation
- Wet or damp clothing in cold conditions
- Constricting footwear or clothing reducing circulation
What to do
- Move to a warm environment immediately
- Rewarm affected skin in warm (not hot) water (98–102°F / 37–39°C)
- Do not rub or massage frozen tissue
- Seek emergency medical care for any deep frostbite
Educational content — not medical advice. Seek emergency medical care for any suspected case.
References: Wikipedia · Wikidata
Frostbite in our guides
Frostbite appears in the following WhetherWear guides:
- What to Wear at 0°F: A Complete Cold-Weather Outfit Guide
- What to Wear at 5°F: Outfit Guide for Single-Digit Cold
- What to Wear by Temperature: A Decoded Guide From 100°F Down to 0°F
- What to Wear in a Cold Snap: Outfit Strategy for Sudden Extreme Cold
- What to Wear in Cold Weather: A Temperature-by-Temperature Layering Guide
- What to Wear Running in Cold Weather: A Complete Layering Guide