Chapping and Mild Frostbite, the Winter Scourge

Frostibite can be a dangerous and life threatening condition, but it can also be simply an annoyance.  Although most frostbite resources focus on the serious, "I got lost in the woods for a week" kind of frostbite, there are milder forms as well, similar to the spectrum of sunburn damage.

The mildest form of frostbite is a significant contributor to chapped hands.  Chapping occurs when the skin becomes cold, and less able to flex easily.  If you then happen to flex the skin, it can cause microscopic cracks in the surface, which can be exacerbated by further movement.  

Imagine the skin over your knuckles, exposed to air, and becoming less resilient.  (I think we have all noticed that our hands age thirty years when we go outside, regardless of our true age!)  You then move your fingers, whether to grasp your car keys or pick up the newspaper, which stretches the skin over your knuckles.

Chapped hands and knuckles, and mildly frostbitten hands and fingertips, are all grossly exacerbated by the lower humidity of winter.  Between central heating and a generally lower humidity through winter in most parts of the country, it can get quite dry both inside your home and outdoors.  This dryness tends to dry out the exposed skin of your hands and face, making it less resilient, and less able to repair any damage.

Frostbite can be as mild as a light sunburn, but it represents seriously damaged skin cells.  Over the course of time, the cells will die and slough off, contributing to the itchy dry skin of winter.  The cuticles and the tips of your fingers right beside the nail on each side are also very vulnerable to frostbite.  These areas do not benefit from the amount of blood flow in the rest of your extremities, which means that they cool off a lot faster than the rest of your hand.  This in turn allows them to be more easily damaged by the cold.

There is little you can do to solve mild frostbite once it has happened.  Unlike more serious forms of frostbite, a light bit of frostbite is not cause to visit the emergency room.  Do not scrub snow into the affected areas, and try to warm your hands gently - for example, with warm water instead of hot.

Two things can be done to prevent and heal chapped and lightly frostbitten hands and faces: moisturize and protect!  To protect your hands, wear gloves or mittens whenever you are outdoors in winter.  Even if the weather seems mild, your hands will thank you for the added protection.  You can protect your face by pulling your scarf up to cover the lower half of your face, and by wearing a balaklava in more severe weather.

A moisturizer that contains lanolin and vitamin E is ideal for protecting yourself against winter's ill effects.  Avoid moisturizers that contain aloe, as it actually has a drying effect on your skin.  Apply moisturizer at least once a day, and more often if you feel that you need it.  Moisturizer will not only help your skin's appearance, but it also provides supportive care to help it heal itself - and to prevent damage in the future.