How to Treat Cold Burns

Cold burns appear on the skin due to extremely low temperatures rather than heat. If you come into contact with cold winds in high-altitude areas or touch freezing objects, and experience symptoms, you may have suffered a cold burn. You can manage mild symptoms at home, such as slight discoloration of the skin, numbness, itching, tingling, or mild stinging. However, if symptoms worsen, such as blistering, prolonged numbness, or skin discoloration or infection, medical attention is usually necessary.

Remove yourself from the cold source. If you suspect a cold burn, immediately move away from the source of cold that is directly affecting your skin. If the burn is caused by high altitude or cold winds, descend to a lower elevation and cover your skin with layers of clothing as soon as possible.

Remove wet or cold clothing. After distancing yourself from the cold burn source, take off any wet or cold clothing that might prolong the exposure to cold temperatures. The goal is to return your body temperature to normal as quickly as possible, especially in the areas of skin affected by the cold burn.

Soak the affected skin in warm water for 20 minutes. To begin treating the cold burn, turn on warm water in a bathtub, sink, or heat a pot of water to a warm temperature, not boiling. The water should be between 37 – 40°C. Immerse the cold-burned area in warm water for 20 minutes.

• Avoid using water over 40°C, as excessively hot temperatures could worsen the cold burn.
• While soaking the affected skin, you may feel a sensation like pins and needles. This indicates that the skin is thawing, and the sensation will gradually return.

Stop soaking after 20 minutes. After 20 minutes of soaking, remove the affected skin from the warm water and let it rest at room temperature for another 20 minutes. This step allows the skin time to begin returning to normal temperature.

• If, after 20 minutes, you notice that the cold burn is healing and the pain subsides, further soaking may not be necessary.
• Room temperature is generally considered to be around 21°C. If you can't rest in this temperature range, gently cover the affected area with a blanket or add extra clothing.

Soak again if the skin remains cold. If after 20 minutes at room temperature the cold burn symptoms have not improved, you should soak the area in warm water again.

• After soaking for another 20 minutes, remove the skin from the water and wait another 20 minutes before proceeding to the next step.
• If symptoms persist after the second soak and the additional 20-minute rest, seek immediate medical attention.

Apply a warm compress for about 20 minutes. If the symptoms start to improve after 1-2 warm water soaks but the skin still feels numb or cold, you can apply a warm compress to the cold-burned area. Leave the compress on for about 20 minutes. To make a warm compress, use a hot water bottle or place a towel under hot running water until it warms up.

• If you feel stinging pain when applying the compress, you can gently place the affected skin under a warm blanket.

Remove the compress to allow the skin to return to normal temperature. After applying the warm compress to the cold burn for 20 minutes, take it off and let the skin rest at room temperature until the affected area returns to normal body temperature.

Apply aloe vera gel if the cold-burned skin is not cracked or broken. Apply aloe vera gel generously to the affected skin 3 times a day. This can help soothe the burn and speed up recovery due to its moisturizing properties.

• Aloe vera may also assist in promoting the regeneration of new skin cells more quickly.

Lightly cover the burn with medical gauze. To prevent infection or further irritation, you can use medical gauze and adhesive tape to cover the cold burn. Make sure not to wrap it too tightly, as the skin needs to breathe.

• To keep the wound clean, change the gauze every 48 hours. When changing the dressing, you can gently wash the burn with room temperature water and reapply aloe vera if necessary.
• Cover the burned area until the wound is nearly healed and the pain subsides.
• Minor burns typically heal within two weeks.

Consult a doctor if you have severe cold burn symptoms. Examine the wound for any severe symptoms. Seek immediate medical help if you experience any serious signs. Severe symptoms often include: cracked skin or blistering, skin remaining white, gray, or yellow even after warming, and/or extreme numbness, coldness, or stiffness even after warming.

• In very severe cases, you may not be able to use the muscles in the cold-burned area.
• Signs of infection may also be present, such as pus or green discharge, fever, and/or increased pain.
• While mild burns can cause cracking or blistering, this generally indicates a more serious burn. Even if the burn seems minor, cracked and/or blistered skin may complicate cleaning and wound care. Seek medical attention if you have an open wound, regardless of the cause or severity of the burn.

Seek emergency help if you suffer from cold burn injuries. If your skin turns black or blue, or if you experience severe pain that penetrates deep into your body, you might have sustained cold burn damage and should see a doctor immediately. The difference between a regular cold burn and cold burn injury can be subtle. While a cold burn typically only affects the skin's surface, cold burn injuries damage both the skin and the tissues beneath it.

• Although both cold burns can cause the skin to change to white, red, or pale yellow, only cold burn injuries can turn the skin black or blue.
• Do not rewarm cold burn-affected tissues if there is a chance they could freeze again before medical care is provided.
• Avoid rubbing the injured area from cold burns, as it could cause further damage to the tissues.

Medical treatment to address specific symptoms. The treatment approach will depend on the severity, symptoms, and whether you have sustained a cold burn injury. In most cases, the doctor will begin by warming the skin in warm water for about 20 minutes. They may also administer oral pain medication, antibiotics, and possibly intravenous fluids to restore blood circulation to the affected area.

• If both the skin and underlying tissue are damaged, the doctor might need to perform a procedure to remove part or all of the burned area.
• In severe cases, the doctor may recommend X-rays, bone scans, or MRIs to assess the extent of the damage.
• A severe cold burn could take several weeks to months to heal. If the cold burn injury persists, the damaged area may never fully recover.

• To alleviate pain, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen.
• Ibuprofen and aspirin can also help reduce swelling caused by severe cold burns.
• You can prevent cold burns by wearing protective clothing that fully covers your skin and is thick enough to shield you from the wind and harsh weather conditions.
• If injured due to cold temperatures that aren't freezing, seek immediate medical attention.

• Tetanus is sometimes a complication of cold burn injuries.
• Ice packs are one of the most common causes of cold burns. To prevent cold burns while using ice, always place a cloth between your skin and the ice pack.
• Although anyone can suffer from cold burns, individuals engaged in winter sports, smokers, those on beta-blockers, or those with neurological conditions that reduce pain or cold sensitivity are at higher risk of cold burns.
• Children and the elderly are also more susceptible to cold burns due to their bodies' reduced ability to regulate temperature.