The salt and ice challenge can quickly cause second- and third-degree injuries similar to frostbite or being burnt with the metal end of a [[lighter]], as well as causing painful [[Ulcer (dermatology)|open sores]] to form on the skin. Due to the numbing sensation of the cold and possible nerve damage during the stunt, participants are often unaware of the extent of any injuries sustained during the challenge, only feeling pain once the salt on their skin enters lesions created during the challenge. Skin discoloration from the challenge may remain after the challenge has been attempted.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jaslow |first1=Ryan |date=2 July 2012 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57465323-10391704/ice-and-salt-challenge-leaves-12-year-old-pittsburgh-boy-with-second-degree-burns/ |title="Ice and salt challenge" leaves 12-year-old Pittsburgh boy with second-degree burns - HealthPop |website=[[CBS News]] |access-date=24 June 2013|archive-date=3 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703104247/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57465323-10391704/ice-and-salt-challenge-leaves-12-year-old-pittsburgh-boy-with-second-degree-burns/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kwak |first1=Janet |url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/health/ice-and-salt-youtube-challenge-skittles-cinnamon-dare-burns-doctors-161177865.html |title=Ice-and-Salt Challenge Fires Up Health Officials |date=3 July 2012 |website=[[NBC Los Angeles]] |access-date=24 June 2013|archive-date=9 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109064322/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/health/ice-and-salt-youtube-challenge-skittles-cinnamon-dare-burns-doctors-161177865.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Templeton |first1=David
|date=29 June 2012 |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/boy-12-badly-injured-in-salt-and-ice-challenge-642561/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701084654/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/boy-12-badly-injured-in-salt-and-ice-challenge-642561/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 July 2012 |title=Boy, 12, badly injured in 'salt-and-ice' challenge |website=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref>
== Scientific Reaction ==
As mentioned, the reaction that is created between salt and ice is an eutectic frigorific mixture. For the salt and ice challenge, molecular polarizability is a key factor of this reaction. The ions in [[Sodium chloride]] (table salt) are heavily influenced by the molecular polarizability of the ice itself. <ref>{{Cite webjournal |lastlast1=Kim |firstfirst1=Jun Soo |datelast2=SeptemberYethiraj 28,|first2=Arun |year=2008 |title=The effect of salt on the melting of ice: A molecular dynamics simulation study |urljournal=https://pubs.aip.org/aip/jcp/article-abstract/129/12/124504/957549/The-effect- Journal of-salt-on-the-melting-of-ice-A?redirectedFrom=fulltext|url-status=liveChemical Physics |archive-urldoi=https:/10.1063/pubs1.aip.org/aip/jcp/article-abstract/129/12/124504/957549/The-effect-of-salt-on-the-melting-of-ice-A?redirectedFrom=fulltext2979247 |access-datevolume=November 16, 2024129 |websiteissue=The Journal of Chemical Physics12}}</ref> The difference between the spacing of the electrons in the table salt and ice cause this reaction. The [[melting point]] of ice is decreased due to the incorporation of table salt and this then causes a binding of the two substances. The ice is neutralized by the salt, thus causing the ice to melt easier and at a higher rate. <ref>{{Citecite webjournal |lastlast1=Breakey |firstfirst1=WilliwmWilliam |last2=Crowley |first2=Timothy P. |last3=Alrawi |first3=Mogdad |year=2015 |title=Salt and Ice, a Challenge Not to Be Taken Lightly |url=https://academic.oup.com/jbcr/article-abstract/36/3/e230/4568862?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false |access-date=November 16, 2024 |websitejournal=Journal of Burn Care and& Research |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=e230 |doi=10.1097/BCR.0000000000000180}}</ref>
== Health Hazards and Injury Recovery ==
The stunt leaves behind an [[Frostbite|ice burn]] that increases in severity the longer the chemical reaction is occurring on the skin. In the ice burn that occurs from this reaction, the [[Ice crystal|ice crystals]] that form have the potential to burn and scar the skin permanently the longer the reaction occurs. [[Blistering]] at the site of injury is often common in more severe cases.<ref>{{Citecite webjournal |lastlast1=Sachs |firstfirst1=CristophChristoph |last2=LehenhardtLehnhardt |first2=Marcus |last3=Daigeler |first3=AdrienAdrian |last4=Goertz |first4=Ole |dateyear=October 30, 2015 |title=The Triaging and Treatment of Cold-Induced Injuries |urljournal=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4650908/Deutsches Ärzteblatt International |access-datevolume=November112 17,|issue=44 2014|pages=741–747 |websitedoi=National10.3238/arztebl.2015.0741 Library of Medicine|pmid=26575137}}</ref> The freezing of tissue between the [[Dermis|dermal]] and [[Epidermis|epidermal]] levels of the skin lead to a disruption in circulation initially causing frost nip.<ref>{{Cite journal |lastlast1=IiiLong III |firstfirst1=William B. Long |last2=Edlich |first2=Richard |last3=Winters |first3=Kathryne L. |last4=Britt |first4=L. D. |dateyear=2005 |title=Cold Injuries |url=https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/1bef42082d7a0fdf,2ed3f1eb04c82575,08a591dc670a33fb.html |journal=Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants |language=English |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=67-78 |doi=10.1615/JLongTermEffMedImplants.v15.i1.80 |issn=1050-6934}}</ref> After a few days from a salt and ice challenge, depending on the severity and duration of the burn, regeneration of [[Epithelium|epithelial cells]] should slowly occur along with scarring and surface disruption. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Isozaki |first=Shotaro |last2=Tanaka |first2=Hiroki |last3=Horioka |first3=Kie |last4=Konishi |first4=Hiroaki |last5=Kashima |first5=Shin |last6=Takauji |first6=Shuhei |last7=Fujiya |first7=Mikihiro |last8=Druid |first8=Henrik |dateyear=2022-06-01 |title=Hypoxia-induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin in the healing process of frostbite |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925443922000485?via=ihub |journal=Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease |volume=1868 |issue=6 |pages=166385 |doi=10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166385 |issn=0925-4439}}</ref>
