CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It's winter in Chicago. As Chicagoans, we're used to snow and cold, but it's easy to forget how easy it is to get frostbite.
"It's a killer out there, literally," said Dr. Arthur Sanford, Loyola Medical Center Burn Center.
"There's cold and then there's cold. What we're facing here this week is that really profound cold where it gets dangerous."
A lot of us continue to use our phones every day, outside, even in sub zero conditions.
Sandford said fingers are especially at risk and they see a lot of them this time of year.
"Why is a burn center taking care of a cold injury? Because it behaves a lot like burns with blisters, lost of skin and treatments and wound care are very similar. That sacrifice when you take your glove off to use your phone, you have to really be careful."
Sanford said texting gloves are too thin and don't protect from the elements. If your skin develops blisters, is pale numb, red or painful, use warm water...if symptoms don't disappear after several hours, Sandford said go to the emergency room.
"Even in the best conditions, it's going to be only a couple minutes of exposure, and you're at risk of having frost tip. In 30 minutes, you could get frostbite and losing tissue."
To avoid frostbite, dress warmly in layers and don't wear texting gloves. Use warm water – not hot – to re-warm an affected area.
"And do not rub with snow or vigorously massage the area," Dr. Sanford said.