Snow slowing cars down, black ice on roads, and days where the temperature dips well below freezing with extreme wind chills, are occurrences all students who have lived in lovely Minnesota for multiple winters are accustomed to. However, while traffic, fender-benders and snow-days do plague the lives of students, and teachers, Minnesota’s extreme weather can also have a drastic affect on personal health.

The cold causes toes and fingers slowly going numb as students trudge through the snow, heads down and coats zipped up. This is caused by the cold occurs because the body focuses blood flow towards the main internal organs (heart, lungs, brain, etc.). Thus, after spending prolonged time in the cold, the toes, nose, and fingers can be subject to frostbite. Frostbite occurs when blood flow, usually to an extremity due to its distance from the main internal organs, has nearly or fully stopped.

The body can usually survive the loss of toes, fingers and other limbs but damage to vital organs in the torso and abdomen areas could be fatal. Therefore, as a protective response, blood vessels in extremities constrict. An article by The University of Maryland Medical Center on  frostbite states that “When skin temperature drops low enough, ice crystals can form around and within the cells, freezing tissue and possibly rupturing cells,” so damage from frostbite to cells can appear hours after exposure, following the return of blood flow.

While losing limbs to the cold may sound just a bit terrifying, there is an obvious answer as to how students can fight off the bite: bundle up when going outside. A cozy coat is an obvious must, but, the less thought of are gloves, hats, warm socks and shoes which can help keep easily frostbitten hands, ears, and feet warm.

Other problems that accompany cold weather are often bloody noses and cracked, dry skin. Students may have noticed this change in their skin whether it be from sensing a shift in their makeup application or by glancing down and catching a glimpse of ashy, cracked hands. “The only change I see in my body during the winter is that my hands get crazy, crazy dry. I don’t know if you can get temporary eczema, but if you can, I have it. There are literally small, red cuts all over the back of my hand and my knuckles,” sophomore Oona Prozinski said.

This sudden onset of dryness occurs because colder air lacks moisture, which, when paired with strong winds, can easily strip the skin inside the nose, on knuckles, scalp, lips and all over the body. Dry skin often becomes itchy, which can lead to dermatitis. In a video by Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Dermatologist Dawna Davis M.D. states that “[Dermatitis] is a very troublesome disease where you’re very itchy and dry, and that leads you to scratch. And when you scratch, you break the barrier open further and of course dry cracked skin is at risk for infection.”

So, easy solutions and prevention to these problems include moisturizing, hydrating and then moisturizing some more. Here are some ways to keep one’s body protected inside and out against the cold: the use of lip balms, body butters, extra moisturizer and oils can keep the lips, body and scalp hydrated, preventing dandruff, cracks and flaking; carrying around a small bottle of hand lotion in a purse or backpack and help cure oneself and friends of dreaded dry winter hands. “I deal with [dry skin] by using prescription hydrocortisone cream every three nights or whenever the skin acts up…and it looks funny, but you need to put socks, gloves, or mittens on your hands when you do this or else the cream gets everywhere while you sleep and thus does nothing…I would use normal hand creams, but they don’t cut it,” Prozinski said.

Also, drinking lots of water and keeping a humidifier going at home can help not only the skin but bloody noses as well. Although students may be keeping their houses toasty warm through a heating system, the air is still very dry so a humidifier adds back in much needed moisture into the air which hydrates the body’s airways. This can prevent bloody noses which, while they may not hurt, are a hassle.

Although it’s always best to wear sunscreen to prevent sunburns, in case this was forgotten, here’s some options for those who have already sustained injuries to the cold: if any one has severe cold-burns and/or frostbite they should see a professional as it may be a medical emergency. However, minor numbness can be solved by filling a sock with some rice, heating it up in the microwave, and using it as a heat pad, or drinking a warm drink such as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.

Overall, during these harsh winter months, lotions, balms, humidifiers, fuzzy socks and hot beverages will be students’ best friends. While solutions for winter dryness are abundant, many students forget the impact Minnesota’s weather can have on the body when they’re caught up listening to traffic reports and news of schools giving cold days. Although snowball fights and building snowmen may be tempting, if it’s dangerously cold outside, students can always opt to cuddle up in cozy PJ’s, next to their humidifier with a book or computer in their lap, a cup of something hot in one hand and a bottle of moisturizer in the other.