How to treat frostbite

Frostbite. Many people are afraid of this disease because it is very uncomfortable for patients, itchy and painful. The cause of frostbite is that the blood vessels under the skin cannot circulate blood for a long time due to the cold weather. Suffering from frostbite is quite painful for patients, because the affected area is very itchy and painful, and scratching it with hands cannot solve the problem.

Frostbite is a common disease in winter. People should wear more clothes and move their hands and feet more often, which will keep their hands and feet warmer. If you want to know how to treat frostbite, you can read below.

Cold is the main cause of frostbite

Chilblains are common in early winter and early spring, and are more common in children, women and people with poor peripheral blood circulation. These patients often have symptoms such as cold skin on the extremities, cyanosis of the extremities, and excessive sweating. Skin lesions often occur on the fingers, back of hands, face, ears, toes, edges of feet, heels, etc., and are often distributed on both sides. Common lesions are localized congestive dark purple-red raised edematous erythema with unclear boundaries, bright red edges, tense and shiny surface, and soft texture. Local pressure may cause the color to fade, and the red color will gradually return after the pressure is removed. In severe cases, blisters may occur, which may rupture to form erosions or ulcers, and may leave pigmentation or atrophic scars after healing. There is obvious itching, which is aggravated by heat and causes pain after ulceration.

There is a special type of frostbite that is more common on the thighs of women. Clinically, there are characteristic bluish-red infiltrative macules symmetrically distributed on the lateral aspect of the thigh due to excessive obesity, occasionally with secondary ulcers and often combined with follicular keratin plugs. These lesions were entirely related to cold exposure and resolved in a warm environment.

1. Systemic treatment

Oral vasodilators such as niacinamide and nifedipine. Or add Salvia miltiorrhiza (20ml) to 500ml of low molecular weight dextran and drip it intravenously, which has the effects of dilating blood vessels, improving microcirculation, increasing blood flow and dissolving blood clots.

2. Local treatment

Helium-neon laser and infrared irradiation can be used, or laser acupoint irradiation (Zusanli, Fuliu, etc.) can be performed, and then the frostbite area can be generally irradiated with defocus. For those without ulceration, you can use compound heparin ointment, polysulfonate mucopolysaccharide cream, vitamin E ointment, etc. The affected area can be soaked in the decoction of Guifu three times a day for 20 to 30 minutes each time, and rub the affected area with the residue while soaking. (The prescription consists of 20g each of cinnamon twig, safflower, aconite root, perilla leaf and schizonepeta, add 3000ml of water, boil and use after cooling slightly. For those with ulcers, apply 5% boric acid ointment, 1% erythromycin ointment, etc.)

Yunnan Baiyao is very effective in treatment. The method is: for those with frostbite that has not broken, mix Yunnan Baiyao powder with white wine to make a paste for external application, and pay attention to keeping warm. For those with frostbite that has broken, wash the affected area, sprinkle Yunnan Baiyao powder directly on the wound, bandage it with sterilized gauze, and it will heal within a few days. Pay attention to keeping warm.

Through this article, we can have a good understanding of how to treat frostbite. For common diseases such as frostbite, it is best to prevent its occurrence so as to avoid the pain it brings. If patients know how to treat frostbite, they can treat it well and help themselves get rid of frostbite as soon as possible.