Winter brings not only traditional snowball, sledding, skiing, but also some problems typical of this period of the year. In this case, not only a cold or a bruise on the ice. The cold season causes a problem, sometimes of a rather serious nature - frostbite of the hand. Such a nuisance can affect not only the upper limbs, but also the nose, cheeks, ears, and also toes. Consider how to determine frostbite in time, and what help the victim needs.
Main reasons
Before considering what to do with frostbite on our hands, let's talk about the factors that provoke this condition. After all, their elimination can protect the body from hypothermia.
So, all causes of frostbite can be divided into three groups:
- Clothing. It should fully match the weather. It is best to choose natural materials. Woolen mittens will create the effect of "thermos", minimizing the possibility of frostbite. In addition, do not forget that clothes should not be tight and fit very tightly to the body.
- Weather. Not only cold can lead to frostbite. A significant role is played by atmospheric humidity and wind speed.
- Features of the body, disease. Many people suffering from cardiovascular pathologies, tumors, endocrine diseases, become less protected before the cold. Such persons can suffer even in those conditions in which a healthy person does not freeze.
Diseases or risk factors
The ability to get frostbite on a hand is high enough in people with the following conditions:
- heart failure;
- obliterating endarteritis;
- Raynaud's syndrome ;
- deep vein thrombosis;
- diabetes;
- injuries
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- Addison's disease ;
- large blood loss;
- pregnancy - 3rd trimester;
- alcohol intoxication.
Degree of frostbite
Cold in the tissues of the body can cause changes, sometimes even irreversible. Under the influence of low temperatures, spasms of blood vessels occur, blocking the blood flow. The severity of these changes depends entirely on the degree of damage.
Frostbite of the hand according to the depth of tissue damage is divided into 4 degrees. Consider them.
1 degree
This is the easiest form. With it, the affected areas do not die. The first degree is characterized by pale or crimson skin. A person feels tingling and burning sensation in the affected area. After this, the problem areas go numb. After first aid, patients feel pain and itching in the affected areas.
As a rule, people who have received frostbite hands of the 1st degree, recover after a week.
2 degree
Staying for a long time in the cold can significantly aggravate the situation. Manifestations at the 2nd degree of frostbite are quite similar to those described above.
However, with this form, severe consequences are observed. After 1-2 days after the resulting frostbite, blisters appear on the surface of the skin. They contain a clear liquid. This is a hallmark that characterizes frostbite of the fingers. Treatment is usually delayed for two weeks. In addition to a long period, with this form, the patient is much more likely to feel pain discomfort.
3 degree
In the event of prolonged exposure to cold, irreversible effects may occur. On the surface of the skin at 3 degrees, bubbles appear that contain not a clear liquid, but bloody contents.
This is a fairly severe form in which all skin elements die. Fingers go off the fingers. Over the course of three weeks, the skin is rejected in the damaged areas. Instead, scars form. New nails can grow, but in most cases they are deformed.
Scarring of the skin surface continues for a month.
4 degree
This is the most severe form of frostbite, which is characterized by the death of tissues. However, the danger is not only the damaged area of the skin. Sometimes such frostbite affects the joints, bones, as a result of which the patient develops gangrene. The consequences of this condition are irreversible. The patient needs amputation of damaged limbs.
Symptoms of frostbite
When walking on the street it is very important to pay attention to the signs with which the body signals a beginning pathology. In almost 95% of all cases, limbs suffer. They were the first to feel a violation of natural circulation.
Consider how frostbite of hands occurs. Symptoms occur in a certain sequence:
- Reduced mobility. Initially, it occurs at the fingertips. Then spreads to the limbs. Such a pathology occurs as a result of delayed conduction of an impulse. Tissue cooling leads to changes in the walls of nerve fibers. Because of this, the speed of the pulse is reduced.
- Decrease in sensitivity. Initially, the tactile sensation is lost . Then pain sensitivity decreases. Following is the feeling of one’s own body.
- Burning sensation. It occurs when thawing a damaged area of the body. This stage precedes the onset of pain. This symptomatology is characteristic for frostbite of 1 or 2 degrees. At 3 and 4, it is completely absent. A burning sensation is accompanied by redness of the skin.
- Pain. The intensity of this manifestation depends on the degree of damage. In addition, the number of nerve receptors in the affected area plays a large role. In other words, frostbite of the hands will cause more discomfort than a damaged elbow. With an increase in swelling, the pain will intensify. Such sensations are characterized as tearing, burning, extremely sharp. It should be noted that discomfort occurs only during thawing of a damaged limb. Under the influence of low temperatures, the patient does not feel pain.
- Color change. In the initial stage of frostbite, the integument becomes pale, with a matte finish. Then the limb takes on a burgundy color. If the patient has a severe degree of frostbite, then pallor is followed by cyanosis. The final stage of frostbite is black. It indicates tissue non-viability.
- Blisters. Their appearance signals a frostbite of 2, 3, 4 degrees. The fluid that accumulates in them can be transparent or bloody. The patient feels a pulsation at the location of the blister.
- Itching This symptom can be observed during thawing or during the recovery period.
- Tingling. Symptoms are characteristic of the stage of recovery after frostbite. The patient feels such phenomena as “goosebumps”, “needles”.
First aid
Everyone should know what to do when frostbite hands. Indeed, in the event of a cold injury every minute is dear.
Doctors recommend that you follow the following algorithm of actions:
- Immediately bring the injured person into a warm room. Take off his cold clothes. In order for it to warm again, it will take time. Therefore, it is better to replace it with another.
- Rub damaged hands with a warm, soft cloth. This contributes to the flow of blood to them. The result is warming. It is very important that when helping with frostbite of your hands, do not rub them with snow. Such actions are contraindicated, since snow does not retain heat. In addition, it is able to leave microcracks on the surface of the skin. If they get infection, the treatment process will be significantly complicated.
- Offer the victim a hot drink. A broth, coffee or tea, once in the stomach, will become an additional source of heat, which with blood will spread throughout the body.
- Put your hands in warm water. The initial temperature is recommended around 18-20 degrees. For two hours, warm the water very slowly, trying to reach the mark of 36 degrees. It is forbidden to lower limbs in cold water. This will lead to an increase in the lesion area. It is also unacceptable to use hot water immediately. Warming of damaged hands should occur evenly and slowly. Otherwise, the number of dead cells will increase.
- How to treat frostbite of the fingers, if there is no way to lower their warm water? In this case, they should be wrapped in foil. The shiny side should be in contact with the skin. You can insulate with cotton wool or a special thermal blanket. Several layers of warm materials are applied over the foil. The body of the victim should also be wrapped up, because the hands will warm up from the inside and very slowly. Under such conditions, the viability of many affected cells will remain.
It is important to remember that the results from your help should come within 10-20 minutes. If there is no change, then the victim has severe frostbite on the fingers. Treatment in this case should be done exclusively by doctors. Call an ambulance immediately.
Medications
The victim has quite unpleasant symptoms. This should not be forgotten, as the patient may experience strong torment. How to treat frostbite of the fingers? It is recommended to use the following medications to alleviate the patient's sensations:
- Antispasmodics. Such funds can eliminate spasms in the peripheral vessels and contribute to the flow of warm blood to the skin. For treatment, drugs are in demand: “Papaverine”, “No-shpa”, “Mebeverin”, “Duspatalin”, “Drotaverin”.
- NSAIDs. Reduce the intensity of inflammatory processes in the affected area with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Using this group, do not forget that with diseases of the stomach they are contraindicated. The maximum duration of therapy is 5-7 days. Remember how to treat frostbite hands. The following NSAIDs are most suitable: Aspirin, Nimesulide, Ketorolac, Ketanov.
- Antihistamines They are advisable to use for allergic manifestations of any origin. In addition, they have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Often with frostbite, they use Suprastin, Clemastine, and Zirtek medicines.
- Vitamins They should also be introduced into drug therapy. Vitamin C will have the most beneficial effect on the body. It is able to “heal” blood vessels damaged by cold and strengthen their walls.
- Ointments. They should not be forgotten. With mild degrees, it is recommended to use an ointment with reparative properties for quick recovery. With frostbite of the hands, the Bepanten remedy is quite in demand. You can use the balm “Guardian”, “Rescuer”.
Important Tips
Before using the above-described medications, you should consult your doctor about the required dosage and the appropriateness of this therapy.
In addition, carefully monitor the condition of the victim. If the temperature does not drop to an indicator of 37.5–37 degrees, the pain does not go away, be sure to contact the doctors for help. Specialists will also need treatment if the hands begin to fester after frostbite.
The development of allergic reactions or side effects from the undertaken medical treatment also needs to be adjusted by a qualified doctor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it must be recalled that everyone can prevent frostbite. To do this, choose clothing appropriate to the temperature, do not wear tight shoes, be sure to wear mittens.
In addition, the street should not stand in one place. It is recommended to move more. People suffering from circulatory disorders will need very warm clothes.
Never use alcohol for warming! It provides a short-term effect, followed by aggravation of freezing.
Follow these rules, and you will not be afraid of frostbite!