Frostbite of the earlobe occurs quite often during the cold season. Especially among young people who, trying to adhere to fashion, do not wear hats that tightly cover their ears, but at best put a hood over their heads. Frostbite detected in time quickly disappears if first aid was provided correctly. In severe cases, if the doctor does not see a doctor on time, serious inflammation and even tissue necrosis may occur.
Dangerous situations
The opinion is erroneous and extremely dangerous that it is possible to freeze an earlobe only in extreme cold, when the air temperature approaches -20 degrees. In fact, in most cases, frostbite occurs in spring or autumn, with a sharp cold snap and high humidity. Then a few degrees below zero are enough for a sharp narrowing of the capillaries and a violation of normal blood circulation.
The risk of frostbite is significantly increased when a person goes out into the cold air after a hot bath or shower, smokes in the cold, or is intoxicated.
In such situations, firstly, the sensitivity of the nerve endings decreases, and secondly, there is a strong compression of small blood vessels. Therefore, the problem may not be noticed immediately, but when frostbite reaches the deep layers of the skin.
First signs
The first signs of frostbite are severe blanching of the skin and an almost complete loss of sensitivity. The earlobe becomes almost transparent and, when probed, does not feel the touch of the fingers. What to do if your earlobe is frostbitten - first of all, to prevent further hypothermia: pull down your hat or wrap your ears with a scarf and look for a warm place where you can wait a little while blood circulation is restored.
In the warmth, secondary signs of frostbite will begin to appear, which can be used to assess the depth of tissue damage:
- The first stage is marble coloration of the earlobe, swelling, tingling, mild pain.
- The second stage - the above signs plus small watery blisters, pain and burning sensation can be severe.
- The third stage - the bubbles are filled with bloody contents, cyanosis is visible in their depths, the pain is very strong.
- The fourth stage is severe edema, the lobe is purple-blue with dark spots, there are no changes in the skin.
After the initial diagnosis, you can decide what to do if your earlobes are frostbitten. The first two stages of frostbite go away rather quickly on their own. Their consequences can be easily eliminated at home with simple folk remedies. At 3-4 stages, you need to see a doctor and get qualified help.
Home treatment
So, if your earlobe is frostbitten, what to do first. Be sure to keep warm. Moreover, to warm not only the ears, but the whole body as a whole. This will activate blood circulation and protect the immune system. You can drink hot tea or warm milk, a decoction of chamomile, mint, lemon balm will be useful. If possible, take a warm (but not hot!) Shower or bath.
Gently massage the earlobes with your fingers, after washing your hands and treating them with an antiseptic. The massage can be done until the lobe sensitivity is completely restored. For the speedy restoration of blood circulation, it is worth taking an aspirin pill, and to relieve pain - no-shpu.
If you have time to appear on the skin blisters - you cannot massage the lobes so as not to damage them. In this case, a clean, warming cotton-gauze bandage (dry or soaked in a warm decoction of chamomile or calendula) is applied to the ear. Usually 2-3 hours are enough for complete rewarming. After that, it is necessary to examine the skin again and, if necessary, use an antibacterial or anti-inflammatory ointment.
Doctor's help
But if the earlobe is very frostbitten - what to do? We'll have to go to the hospital. The main danger of deep frostbite is possible tissue necrosis, which can only be prevented by intensive treatment. If the integrity of the vesicles is damaged, pathogens can penetrate through them into the deep layers of the epidermis and cause the development of inflammation or suppuration.
Usually such patients are admitted to the hospital. They are prescribed antibiotics, drugs that activate the immune system, physiotherapy, and, if necessary, pain relievers. Apparatus treatment significantly speeds up the healing process and regeneration of the skin. This could be:
- ultrasound;
- electrophoresis;
- UV irradiation;
- galvanization;
- laser therapy.
With necrosis, the dead tissue must be removed surgically. Sometimes this is a rather large area and subsequently, reconstructive plastic surgery of the earlobe is required.
Prevention measures
But it is much easier to prevent frostbite of the earlobe. What to do for this? Quite a bit - just follow simple rules that should become an ingrained habit:
- do not go out into the cold in a state of strong alcoholic intoxication;
- in bad weather, wear a hat that covers the earlobes;
- prevent prolonged general hypothermia of the body;
- do not smoke in severe frost and wind;
- do not wear metal jewelry on the earlobes during the cold season.
Also, if your earlobe is frostbitten, what you can't do is rub it with snow. The snow melted under the warmth of the hands turns into water, which instantly solidifies again on thin skin and deepens frostbite.
You should immediately cover your ears with your hands or a scarf and try to get into a warm room as soon as possible. And then immediately take the measures described above to activate blood circulation. Then the skin and sensitivity will be fully restored within a few days at the most.
