Key Takeaways – Dry Ice Burns
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Dry ice burns occur when skin contacts extremely cold substances like dry ice or liquid nitrogen, freezing skin cells and causing tissue damage.
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Despite feeling like heat, the burning sensation is caused by freezing, not heat exposure.
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Common causes include handling dry ice, liquid nitrogen, and other freezing materials in industries like food service, transport, and science labs.
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Symptoms may include severe pain, redness, blisters, numbness, waxy skin, and in extreme cases, frostbite or tissue death.
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High-risk groups include outdoor workers, those in cold storage jobs, smokers, diabetics, and people with poor circulation.
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Immediate first aid involves removing wet clothing, warming the affected area in 40 °C water for 20 minutes, and avoiding hot water to prevent further damage.
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Blister care requires cleaning with non-stick dressings and applying soothing ointments like aloe vera.
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Pain relief can be managed with over-the-counter medications during the healing process.
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Seek medical help if numbness, stiffness, or coldness persists, as this may indicate deep tissue injury.
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Prevention includes wearing insulated gloves, protective clothing, and safe handling practices when working with freezing agents.
When people come into contact with objects at freezing temperatures, dry ice burns or forms. This is counterintuitive to the cold nature of ice.
What is this phenomenon? How do they happen? And how would one treat these kinds of burns?
Continue reading as we delve into the answers to these questions.
What Are Dry Ice Burns?
Ice burn, or a cold burn on the skin, occurs when a person comes into contact with freezing objects (such as ice cream or an ice pack) or if room temperatures and cold weather reach way below the freezing range (32° Fahrenheit / (0° Celsius).
The initial sensation of unbearable coldness feels like a person’s skin is burning. In reality, the skin is freezing. That is why it is also called freezer burn on the skin.
Even so, the effect of this ice is like a burn or sunburn. In some situations, the skin may turn red. Sometimes, it could even turn white or a very light grey. If the ice burn only affects the top or outer layer of skin or the epidermis, it will likely not even leave a scar.
The burn naturally progresses as the contact continues on the burned area and goes deeper into the skin tissue or dermis. Severe cases can include permanent damage to the skin and underlying tissues, which may even warrant a visit to a healthcare facility to have damaged tissues surgically removed.
Causes
As the name suggests, dry ice is one of the first and most common causes of these burn injuries. It is an ice variant made when a solid form of carbon dioxide is liquefied, refrigerated in a holding tank and then evaporated. This process of changing dry ice from solid to carbon dioxide gas is called sublimation.
Another cause is liquid nitrogen, which, as the name indicates, is a liquified version of nitrogen. Both are used to cool particular objects in cold temperatures.
Severe burns happen when a body part comes into contact with either, and people who get these need medical attention. As such, these objects pose a significant risk to people who work in industries such as food, beverage, transportation, and other industries that need to keep things as cool as possible.
Symptoms
When a person comes into direct contact with this kind of ice or liquid nitrogen, the water in their skin cells freezes, and ice crystals build up inside, damaging the skin and even how the cells are built.
Furthermore, it also causes further damage to the blood vessels within. This causes blood flow constriction to take place with the blood vessels. It is dangerous, as it lessens the blood flowing to that body part, causing problems.
Apart from these, other symptoms may also show up when in contact. These include:
- great pain;
- frostnip, frostbite and/or severe frostbite;
- blisters forming;
- waxy skin;
- numbness; and
- death.
Risk Factors
Many risk factors could increase the risk of getting these types of burns. For starters, prolonged exposure to extreme cold and windy temperatures will likely increase the chances of sustaining this injury. The risk is further increased if a person does not wear the proper clothing to protect themselves.
It also includes whether someone works with this ice or liquid nitrogen type.
Stepping away from the obvious, several other factors can come into play. These include:
- Smoking
- Age
- Diabetes or other medical conditions
- Medications for diseases
Treatment of Ice Burn
To treat dry ice burns, follow similar steps to managing a regular burn through several steps.
Warm Up
The first step is to warm back up to average temperatures. People who have obtained these wounds will want to strip away their wet clothes. Then, prepare warm water (not hot or cold) around 40 40˚C.
Soak the wounded area in warm water for about 20 minutes. If it is still in pain, repeat the process after a 20-minute break.
Supplement this step by adding a warm compress and blankets to the area.
Remember to consider the temperature of the water. If it is too hot, it may cause more damage to the ice burn wound.
Treating Blisters and Wounds
It is entirely possible to get blisters with these burns. If that happens, clean the affected area immediately to ensure no germs get into it. A gauze that doesn’t stick to the skin is preferred in this situation.
At the same time, applying an ointment can also help soothe the burn.
Treat Pain
Pain medications can be obtained over the counter. These pain relievers can help during ongoing treatment.
Once the area is healing, more salves can be applied to manage the pain. One common salve is aloe vera.
Know When To Go To a Doctor
If severe tissue damage has occurred after all of these treatment tips, the afflicted area may still be cold, numb, or stiff. This is when people should see their doctors, who can recommend other treatments.
These treatments may include surgery to remove damaged tissues, more effective medications, or options.
Handle With Care
Dry ice and liquid nitrogen are used worldwide. However, they can also inflict dry ice burns. Handle these items carefully if you work in the food or transportation industries or encounter them. Wearing proper work attire and protective gloves may also protect you from these.
The reality is that accidents and incidents come out of the woodwork throughout one’s lifetime. With that as a certainty, it is best to – proverbially – brace for the coming storm and stay prepared for whatever life throws at you. This includes dry ice burns, first-degree to third-degree burns and much more. Learn how to handle medical emergencies and other similar situations with first aid training.