A frostbite usually occurs in areas of low temperature when your skin is exposed to the cold. How severe the frostbite will be, depends on the bitterness of the cold and the duration for which your body is exposed to this freezing temperature. Try these home remedies for frostbite to deal with the skin problem effectively.
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Frostbites are a very common skin problem. Also, a person of any age may be affected. The areas where you might develop a frostbite are the fingers, toes, cheeks, chin, nose and the ears.
Suggested read: 14 Highly Effective Home Remedies To Cure A Common Cold
Symptoms of frostbite
According to Healthline,
“Most cases of frostbite include the following symptoms:
- skin feels prickly and/or numb
- skin is discolored (red, white, gray, or yellow)
- pain around the exposed area
Frostbite is severe when the following symptoms emerge:
- blisters on the skin
- skin turns black
- joints and muscles are stiff or not functioning
Regardless of the severity of frostbite, seek medical care if you have frostbite and any of the following:
-
fever
-
dizziness
-
swelling, redness, or discharge in the frostbitten area”
Causes of frostbite
According to the Mayo Clinic,
“Frostbite occurs when skin and underlying tissues freeze. The most common cause of frostbite is exposure to cold-weather conditions. But it can also be caused by direct contact with ice, freezing metals or very cold liquids.
Specific conditions that lead to frostbite include:
-
Wearing clothing that isn’t suitable for the conditions you’re in — for example, it doesn’t protect against cold, windy or wet weather or it’s too tight.
-
Staying out in the cold and wind too long. Risk increases as air temperature falls below 5 F (minus 15 C), even with low wind speeds. In wind chill of minus 16.6 F (minus 27 C), frostbite can occur on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes.
-
Touching materials such as ice, cold packs or frozen metal.”
Risk factors of frostbite
The risk factors include,
- Dehydration, fatigue, and a poor circulation of blood to the limbs can cause you to respond to the cold differently
- Alcohol abuse
- Drug abuse
- Smoking
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fear and panic
- Mental illnesses that prevent good judgement (they impede your response to cold)
- Cold injury
- Previous frostbite
- Being a newly born child or someone really old (this is because both have a very tough time retaining their body heat and fight frostbites)
- Being in a high altitude as there is a low supply of oxygen
Here are the natural treatments that will help you treat your frostbite. However, if despite these remedies your frostbite is not treated, then you need to visit a doctor immediately. Also, you can take these remedies in addition to the medicines prescribed by your doctor or your primary health care provider.
Home remedies for frostbite
Here are the top 7 natural remedies to treat frostbite effectively.
1. Mustard oil
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To treat frostbites, try this easy remedy that involves mustard oil, which is easily available in your kitchen cabinet. What makes the oil an effective natural treatment for frostbites is its antibacterial properties. These properties of the oil make it a useful remedy that fights the possibility of an infection.
Apply mustard oil on the affected areas also improves the circulation of blood, thus increasing the rate of recovery. When you apply the oil on your affected areas, be very careful not to rub hard. You need to be gentle in application, massaging the oil lightly in a circular motion.
For the remedy, you need to first warm some mustard oil. Allow it to cool so that it feels soothing on your skin. If it is too hot, then it can damage a tissue. So be very careful. Now apply it on the affected area, and massage gently.
You need to repeat the treatment twice a day to get rid of the problem.
2. Olive oil
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The next remedy on our list of natural remedies for frostbite is olive oil. Just like mustard oil, olive oil too is a great treatment for frostbite. Not just frostbite, this oil is used for a number of other ksin conditions. When you apply olive oil on your skin, you make sure the blood circulation to those areas increases. This, in turn, ensures a speedier recovery.
Apart from improving circulation of blood, olive oil performs another important function; it moisturizes the skin. One of the common symptoms of frostbite include itchy skin. This problem is cured by olive oil, which provides your skin with the necessary moisture.
For this remedy, you need to warm the oil first. Now cool it down to a soothing temperature, and then apply it on the affected areas. Be gentle in your application. Do not rub hard as it might aggravate the situation.
You need to repeat the treatment thrice a day to get rid of the problem as quickly as possible.
3. Ginger
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Ginger is the next remedy on today’s list of home remedies. It helps treat frostbites effectively because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It is also analgesic in nature, which doubles its ability to reduce the pain caused by frostbites.
Ginger improves blood circulation in the body, and thus, cures the problem of frostbites in a jiffy.
For the remedy, begin by grating some ginger. You need to make sure the slices are really thin. Now gently place this slices over your bites, and rub them into the skin lightly. Massage it into the skin for about 5 minutes.
The treatment should be repeated thrice a day for best results.
Alternatively, you can cut 44 to 5 slices of ginger and boil it in a cup of water. Now remove the water from the fire, and allow it to steep. Once the temperature is soothing, use a clean and soft washcloth to apply this solution on the affected areas.
This treatment should be repeated at least twice a day to cure the condition effectively.
You can also add ginger to your daily diet. Add it to your cooking. You can add lemon, honey and ginger to your meals to improve taste as well treat and prevent frostbites.
Regardless of which option you choose, a remedy that involves ginger is ought to give results, when it comes to frostbites and also other common skin conditions.
4. Aloe vera
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Rich in antibacterial properties, aloe vera is a successful natural remedy for frostbites. It also helps keep the infections at bay. The therapeutic qualities of the plant help soothe the bites thus improving the rate of healing.
For the remedy, you will need to extract fresh aloe vera juice from a leaf of aloe vera. Now mix this gel with some water forming a consistent paste. Apply this paste lightly on the affected areas. Be sure not to rub hard. In less than a week’s time, you will see improvements in your condition
Suggested read: Worried About Peeling Skin? Get Rid Of The Problem With These Home Remedies!
5. Warm water
Warm water helps treat frostbites, and why is quite easy to understand; because it is warm! Now for this remedy, you will need water that is between 37 degrees to 42 degrees. Now dip your affected areas into this water. You can fill your tub with warm water and soak yourself in it for a good 20 minutes at least.
This treatment will help you cure your skin condition quite quickly.
6. Cayenne pepper
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Cayenne pepper helps treat frostbites almost instantly. How? Because it reduces the symptoms associated with frostbites, thus curing the skin condition eventually.
Cayenne pepper is usually used as a remedy for numerous skin conditions because it is really good for improving blood circulation.
For the remedy, begin by boil some cayenne pepper powder in a glass of water. Once the mixture boils, remove it from the fire, and allow it to cool. Once it reaches the soothing lukewarm stage, you need to apply the solution on the affected areas, lightly. Do not rub. Be very gently in your application. This application can be done using a cotton ball, a clean washcloth or even a soft and clean towel.
7. Tea bags
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The last remedy on this list is tea bags. Tea is effective in treating frostbites because it improves the circulation of blood to the affected parts, thus lowering the pain and reducing the stinging sensation.
For the remedy, begin by soaking the tea bags into water. Now bring this water to boil, and then allow it to cool to a soothing temperature. You need to now apply this tea to the affected areas. You can use a cotton ball to apply the solution or use the tea bags only.
Repeat this remedy twice a day to treat the skin condition.
Suggested read: 10 Superbly Effective Home Remedies To Remove Dead Skin Cells
That is all we have on today’s post on home remedies for frostbite. Was this helpful? Will you be recommending it to others too? If you have some remedies that you would like to share with us, then please do so in the comment section below.
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