What Causes Frostbite?

Direct Contact With Ice Or Ice Packs

Individuals who play sports or exercise have no doubt had their fair share of injuries. When those injuries occurred, it was likely common to place an ice pack against the affected area to soothe pain and swelling. Did you know, however, doing so could have resulted in frostbite? Ice packs are typically extremely cold, especially if they've been sitting in a freezer for a long time. As such, when you force direct contact with ice or ice packs against your skin, you're basically forcing the area to adapt to a colder temperature extremely quickly, which isn't good for your body.

This is why it is crucial to know how to ice an injury properly, so you don't develop frostbite that could end up hurting a lot more than the injury originally did. For starters, always have a layer of something substantial between your skin and the ice pack. Even if it's just a bag of frozen peas, you need something between the bag and your skin. Additionally, only hold it there for twenty minutes at a time. Anything longer, and you're going to start feeling the telltale prickles of frostbite.

Continue for more on what can cause frostbite now.