Caring for yourself after exposure to cold temperatures
Home treatment is usually all that's needed to relieve your symptoms. Here are some things you can do to help your body warm up after being exposed to cold temperatures.
- Stay calm.
Fear and being too active cause sweating. Sweating can make you feel chilled.
- Find shelter.
Get out of the cold, the wind, or the water.
- Get dry.
Remove cold, wet clothes. Put on dry clothing—made of moisture-wicking fabrics, such as wool, polyester, or nylon (not cotton)–that insulates well. Cover your head. Wrap up in blankets.
- Move around.
Activity heats up the body and improves blood flow. But avoid sweating. It cools the body.
- Drink warm fluids.
Try to avoid fluids that contain alcohol or caffeine.
- Rewarm small areas of your body that are cold.
If your ears, face, nose, fingers, or toes are really cold or frozen, try to warm them by blowing warm air on them, tucking them inside your clothing, or putting them in warm water.
- Try lotions.
Apply aloe vera or another moisturizer, such as Lubriderm or Keri lotion, to windburned skin. Reapply often. There's not much you can do to stop skin from peeling after a windburn. It's just part of the healing process.
- Try artificial tears.
Nonprescription artificial tears warmed to body temperature can moisturize and soothe eyes that are cold, sore, or dry from exposure to cold or wind.
Frostbitten skin may be more sensitive after the cold injury. The injured skin area should be protected with sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent further skin damage. The color of the injured skin may also change over time.
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