Description

Chilblains (CHILL-blayns) is a condition that causes inflamed, swollen patches and blisters on the hands and the feet. It is caused by exposure to humid air will be cold but not frozen. The symptoms can appear a few hours after being in the cold.

Chilblains can be prevented by limiting your time in the cold, dress warmly and cover the exposed skin. If you get chilblains, keeping the skin warm and dry, which may help relieve the symptoms.

Chilblains, also known as perniosis, it usually goes away in 2 or 3 weeks, especially if the weather gets warmer. You can make the symptoms of each cold season for years.

The condition does not usually result in permanent injury.

Symptoms

Symptoms of frostbite include:

  • Small, itchy areas on the skin, often in the feet or hands.
  • Sores or blisters.
  • The swelling.
  • Pain or stinging.
  • Changes in the color of the skin.

When to see a doctor

Seek medical attention for chilblains if:

  • Have symptoms that are long-lasting or disappear after the flare.
  • I think you might have an infection.
  • You have symptoms that do not improve after two weeks of care in the home.
  • You have symptoms that extend in the warm season.
  • You're not sure if you are in freezing temperatures, as you could get frostbite.

Causes

The exact cause of chilblains is unknown. That may be an unusual reaction of your body to cold followed by rewarming. The warming cold skin can cause small blood vessels under the skin to expand more rapidly than near the larger blood vessels can handle.

Risk factors

The following factors increase the risk of freezing:

  • Wear protective clothing and tight shoes or exposing the skin to the cold. Wear well-fitting clothes and shoes in cold, damp weather may make you more susceptible to chilblains.
  • As a young woman. This condition is most common in women between the ages of 15 and 30.
  • The deficit of weight. This condition is more common in people with a low body mass.
  • Living in cold, damp areas. The risk of frostbite is increased if you live in an area with high humidity and cold, but not freezing.
  • Have certain medical conditions. These include Raynaud's phenomenon, connective tissue disease, and SARS-CoV-2.

Complications

Chilblains symptoms that are long-lasting and develop after repeated exposure to cold and moisture can cause scar tissue and thin skin.

Prevention

To prevent chilblains:

  • Avoid or limit exposure to the cold.
  • When you come in from the cold, warm skin slowly.
  • Dress in layers of loose clothing and wear gloves, a scarf and a hat, and warm, water-resistant footwear.
  • Cover all exposed skin as completely as possible when going out in the cold.
  • Keep your hands, feet and face warm and dry.
  • Keep your home and place of work comfortably warm.
  • Do not smoke.

Diagnosis

To diagnose chilblains, your health care provider will examine the affected skin and talk with you about your symptoms and recent exposure to the cold. Tell your health care provider if you are not sure if they were in freezing temperatures. If it were, you could get frostbite.

To rule out other conditions, you may need blood tests. Or the doctor may take a small sample of the affected skin to be examined under a microscope in a laboratory. This test is called a biopsy of the skin.

Treatment

Chilblains can be treated at home with self-care, including keeping hands and feet warm and dry. If your chilblains symptoms do not go away with self-care, your doctor may suggest medications, including:

  • A topical corticosteroid. If your chilblains symptoms include sores, the application of a corticosteroid such as triamcinolone 0.1% cream can help heal it.
  • Blood pressure medication. For symptoms that do not respond to other treatments, your doctor may prescribe a blood pressure medication such as nifedipine (Procardia). It is a type of calcium channel blocker that is chilblains, improving blood flow.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Chilblains symptoms usually go away in 2 or 3 weeks after exposure to the cold. In the meantime, try the following tips to relieve the symptoms:

  • Warm the skin, slowly and gently, without massaging, rubbing, or the application of direct heat.
  • Avoid exposure to the cold, whenever possible.
  • Keeping the skin dry and hot, but away from sources of heat.
  • Apply the lotion to relieve the itching, such as hydrocortisone cream available in the pharmacies.
  • Keep the blisters and wounds clean and covered.
  • Avoid scratching the affected skin.
  • If you smoke, try to quit smoking, as smoking can constrict the blood vessels and slow healing of wounds.

Preparing for your appointment

You can start by seeing your primary care provider. Or you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin, called a dermatologist, or one that specializes in the blood vessels called a cardiologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • List of the symptoms that I have noticed.
  • The list of your key medical and personal information, including the main causes of stress, recent life changes or vacations to places with a climate that varies from where you live.
  • List of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, including dosage.
  • List of questions to ask your health care provider.

For chilblains, some basic questions to ask your health care provider include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • Do I need any tests?
  • It is this condition of short-term or long-term?
  • What treatments are recommended?
  • What side effects can I expect from treatment?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • Do I need to limit my activities in any way?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • When did you first notice your symptoms?
  • Do your symptoms get worse in response to rapid changes in temperature?
  • Nothing seems to improve the symptoms?
  • Have you ever had these symptoms before?
  • Have you been diagnosed with Raynaud's phenomenon?

What you can do in the meantime

Try to keep the affected area warm and dry.

The symptoms and treatment of Chilblains