Patient's question:
How should frostbite be treated? ?? Itchy sores appear whenever the weather gets cold, it's so annoying. Since I was a child, I've had them every year. When I was young, I had to write for school, and my finger joints would crack open. Now that I'm not in school anymore, I don't lift my hands often, but the sores still appear. They're red and swollen.Doctor's answer:
Preventing frostbite primarily involves preventing cold exposure and maintaining dryness. Footwear and socks should not be too tight, and areas with cold exposure should not be immediately exposed to heat or soaked in hot water. Vaseline or other oils can be applied to easily chilled areas to protect the skin. Non-ulcerative frostbite can be treated with topical applications of drugs that promote blood circulation, such as 10% alcohol or chili tincture. Applying chili broth locally can also be effective. When ulcers form, apply 5% acid ointment, erythromycin ointment, or lard and honey ointment (30% lard and 70% honey), and re-bandage.