Can I soak my hands in hot water if they are frozen? How can I quickly recover from frozen hands?

The weather is cold in winter, and our hands are frozen after going out. When we get home, we will inevitably put our hands close to a warm place to keep them warm. So, can we soak our hands in hot water if they are frozen?

Can I soak my hands in hot water if they are frozen?

Can't. When your hands are frozen, be sure not to put them in an overheated environment, such as soaking them in hot water or roasting them over a fire. Otherwise, not only will your skin fail to warm up, but it is also likely to turn from white to red, then to purple, and finally cause frostbite or ulcers.

Why can't you soak your hands in hot water if they are frozen?

When our skin is exposed to cold, due to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the blood vessels on the surface of the skin will contract first. If the cold continues, the deep blood vessels will continue to contract to prevent heat loss. At this time, the blood flow will be poor, resulting in external sensations such as pale skin, numbness of fingers, and even tingling.

At this time, when you put your hands in hot water or over fire, due to the large temperature difference, the cold hands cannot adapt to the sudden heat. Although the surface blood vessels are dilated, the deep blood vessels are still in spasm, and the blood still cannot flow smoothly. At this time, we will have a feeling of swelling and pain. If you continue to be exposed to a high temperature environment (soaking in hot water or roasting near the fire), the surface blood vessels will continue to expand due to the heat, but the blood reflux is still blocked. The blood continues to accumulate, causing tissue hypoxia, and the waste cannot be discharged, the skin will appear purple, and in severe cases it will lead to ulcers and frostbite. Therefore, frozen hands should never be placed in a high temperature environment, otherwise it will lead to counterproductive effects.

How to recover quickly from frozen hands

How can you warm up frozen hands quickly without hurting them? It is recommended that the correct "posture" should be: return to a warm place, first rub your hands against each other to speed up blood circulation in your hands, and then gradually put your hands in a slightly warm but not too hot place, such as in a bed, holding a cup of warm water, etc. After your hands slowly recover their temperature, you can "strike while the iron is hot" and put them in a warmer environment to keep warm.