Ice crystals form in the spaces surrounding the body cells and damage the skin as the cells freeze.
Hypothermia is a condition caused by a decrease in body temperature to below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, due to external weather conditions or the aging process. Frostbite and hypothermia may occur together or separately. Expected Course Frostbite may occur in less than three minutes, when the wind chill and wind speed increase, and mainly affects the hands, feet, ears, nose and cheeks. Tingling and burning of the skin are early symptoms and a warning to get out of the cold immediately. The second stage is numbness of the skin.