Frostbite is a painful skin injury as a result of the skin and tissue beneath freezing. It most commonly affects the nose, cheeks, fingers, toes, ears and chin. When the skin is open to air in very cold and windy weather, it is most susceptible to getting frostbite. In extremely cold temperatures, frostbite can even occur despite wearing gloves, scarves, and other cold-weather gear. With frostbite, the skin first becomes very cold and red, then you lose feeling in that part of the skin, and finally the skin becomes pale and hard.