How to avoid frostbite during cold winter days and what to do if, nevertheless, it occurred?Chief Physician of Yerevan railway clinic, dermatologist MisakNahapetyan explained NEWS.am Medicine, what effect the low temperature might have on human skin, and how to behave when there is hard frost outdoors.

"Over the surface of the skin receptors are distributed, which provide the skin’s sensitivity to pain, pressure, temperature changes etc. Skin care is an important task, since the skinis the first to be exposed to a variety of factors, and at different temperatures it requires different care," said the doctor.

Accordingtohim, in low temperature conditions the activity of the sweat glands decreases, the capillaries are narrowed to reduce heat loss and conserve heat inside the body. Whenweareoutdoorsforlongtimeatlowtemperatures, the reduction of capillaries and arterioles of the skin is durable, which can lead to frostbite extremities –of fingers and toes, the tip of the nose, ears, even to the necrosis of the tissue.

Talking about what we need to do to protect ourselves from the cold, MisakNahapetyan noted that it is very importantto dress for the weather. «It is necessary to avoid the narrow adjacent clothing because in this case there is no heat-insulating layer of air between the skin and the clothing. Itisveryimportantbefore leaving the house to use fat-based ointment. They should be smeared on exposed parts of the body - hands, face, legs and the feet– the most quick-frostbite parts of the body. Particular attention should be paid to the selection of winter shoes, which should not be too narrow, because it violates circulation and promotes frostbite feet. Youmustalsowearhatandgloves, anditisadvisable, that the hat covers the ears. Inextremecoldandsnowstorm it is necessary to cover also the face», he said. 

Asthedoctorsaid, therearefourdegreesoffrostbite, andthe first clinical manifestations are different. In cases of mild frostbite thelimbsbecomepale, obtain marble hue, and lose sensitivity, it hurts, burns, and in more severe cases, there can be death of skin and soft tissues.

«If you notice the first signs of frostbite, do not try to warm sharply yourlimbby applying heat, because in cases of frostbite the thermal receptors of the skin are affected, which can lead to burns. Insuchcasesitismorecorrecttowarmthelimbsbyattrition of skin with fatty ointment when available, or, oddly enough, with snow, which helps to restore circulation. In the latter case it is very important after the restoration of color to wipe dry the limbs, wrap them up warm, and see a specialist as soon as possible to avoid further complications, "- said the dermatologist.