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General Forum Topics > General Q and A Forum > Frostbite - Will My Finger Fall Off?
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Q: Frostbite - Will My Finger Fall Off?
asked by: moonslice on August 25th, 2005
New User
I got frostbite on a finger and i'm worried about whether my finger will fall off.

It happened 6 days ago, and on the top of my finger (by my knuckle) the skin feels burned and is dark red, and a blister formed. That seems normal I guess.

What i'm worried about is my finger tip, which got more frozen than the top of the finger. The skin surrounding my fingertip is hard and I can't feel anything on the surface of it. It looks pretty normal - never got dark/burned red. But everything is totally numb, although I can feel pressure applied to it.

Is there anything I can do to treat this, and how serious is it?

Thanks! Jim
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happy_sunshine_yan
replied on September 10th, 2005
Experienced User
You probably have a superficial frostbite... This means the the full thickness of the skin is frozen. Skin may look white, or waxy.. Skin is firm to the touch, but tissue underneath is soft.. You may feel pain at first, followed by numbness. To treat this... You should remove any jewellery and put your finger in a container that holds warm water.. Not hot... Just enuff that it feels warm when you put your finger in it.. (about 40 degrees celcius)... Keep changing the water if it feels cold again... You should feel better after you complete this treatment..... Keep your finger in water until pink, or doesn't improve.. (may take up to 40 minutes and may be painful)... Go see a doctor.. After you have done that... Gently dry the affected part and put sterile dressings over wound.. Keep the part elevated and warm.. Do not break any blisters that form... And.. If that doesn't work. Seek medical help.. I hope this helps you...

This was taking directly from a first aid book!
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