Alternative Names & Classifications:
Congelation (CLINICAL)
Description
Frostbite is a localized environmental injury in which skin and underlying tissues literally freeze due to prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. The body constricts blood vessels in the extremities to preserve core body heat, leading to tissue ischemia and the formation of destructive ice crystals within the cells. It most commonly affects exposed areas farthest from the heart, such as fingers, toes, nose, and ears.