Frostbite is defined as damage to tissues due to exposure to low environmental temperatures. Frostbite occurs when tissue freezes. The severity can be classified as deep or superficial:
Superficial frostbite involves only the skin or tissue just beneath the skin, which may cause only erythema (redness), transient numbness, pain and blisters.
Deep frostbite involves the skin, subcutaneous tissue and structures beneath the skin leading to persistent ischemia (lack of oxygen causing cell death), secondary thrombosis, blood clots, gangrene infection and possibly loss of limb. (more…)