Symptoms of ice burn
When an ice burn occurs, it causes the water in the cells of your skin to freeze. Thereby forming sharp ice crystals, which can cause great damage to the skin cell structure. An ice burn also causes the blood vessels near your skin to constrict. This reduces the flow of blood to affected areas, resulting in further damage.
An ice burn in terms of looks is similar to other types of burns [1], like sunburns [2]. You might notice a change in the color of the affected skin. For example, it might be bright red. It might also turn a yellowish-gray or white color.
Other potential symptoms of ice burn include:
- Numbness
- Tingly feeling
- Itchiness
- Blisters
- Pain
- Unusually firm or waxy skin