Nonfreezing Tissue Injuries

The mildest cold injury is frostnip. Affected areas are numb, swollen, and red. Treatment is rewarming, which causes pain and itching. Rarely, mild hypersensitivity to cold persists for months to years, but there is no permanent damage to underlying tissues.

Prolonged exposure to wet cold can cause immersion foot. Peripheral nerves and the vasculature are usually injured; muscle and skin tissue may be injured in severe cases.

Initially, the foot is pale, edematous, clammy, cold, and numb. Tissue maceration may occur if patients walk extensively. Rewarming causes hyperemia, pain, and often hypersensitivity to light touch, which can persist for 6 to 10 weeks. Skin may ulcerate, or a black eschar may develop. Autonomic dysfunction is common, with increased or decreased sweating, vasomotor changes, and local hypersensitivity to temperature change. Muscle atrophy and dysesthesia or anesthesia may occur and become chronic.

Immersion foot can be prevented by not wearing tight-fitting boots, keeping feet and boots dry, and changing socks frequently.

Immediate treatment is rewarming by immersing the affected area in warm (37 to 39° C) water, followed by sterile dressings. NicotineNeuropathic Pain: Treatment).

Localized areas of erythema, swelling, pain, and pruritus result from repeated exposure to damp nonfreezing cold; the mechanism is unclear. Blistering or ulceration may occur. Chilblains most commonly affects the fingers and pretibial area and is self-limited. Occasionally, symptoms recur. Younger women are most commonly affected, some of whom may have Raynaud phenomenon or underlying autoimmune disorders (eg, systemic or cutaneous lupus erythematosus).

Manifestations of Chilblains

Chilblains (Pernio) (Finger)

In this photo of chilblains, the middle phalanx has areas of localized erythema and appears swollen.

© Springer Science+Business Media

Chillblains (Pernio) (Toes)

This image shows swelling and blistering on the pads of the toes resulting from repeated cold exposure without freezing... read more

Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.

Chilblains (Toes)

This image shows the swelling and erythema of chilblains.

Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.

Chilblains (Pernio) (Finger)

In this photo of chilblains, the middle phalanx has areas of localized erythema and appears swollen.

© Springer Science+Business Media

Chillblains (Pernio) (Toes)

This image shows swelling and blistering on the pads of the toes resulting from repeated cold exposure without freezing... read more

Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.

Chilblains (Toes)

This image shows the swelling and erythema of chilblains.

Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.

nicotine may also help.

1. 1. Dow J, Giesbrecht GG, Danzl DF, et al: Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Out-of-Hospital Evaluation and Treatment of Accidental Hypothermia: 2019 Update. Wilderness Environ Med 30(4S):S47-S69, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2019.10.002PMID: 31740369.