The illness known as chilblains results in blistering and swollen, inflammatory areas on the hands and feet. Exposure to moist, cold but not freezing air is the cause. A few hours after being in the cold, symptoms could appear.
By minimising your exposure to the cold, wearing warm clothing, and covering exposed skin, you can avoid developing chilly flashes. If you do experience chilblains, the symptoms may be lessened by keeping the skin dry and warm.
Perniosis, another name for chills, typically goes away in two to three weeks, especially when the weather warms up. For years, you might experience the same symptoms every winter.
Usually, the condition doesn’t cause long-term harm.
Symptoms
Chilblains symptoms include:
- tiny, itchy patches of skin on your hands or feet.
- blisters or sores.
- growing.
- stinging or pain.
- variations in skin tone.
Causes
It is unknown what specifically causes chilblains. They might be an odd way for your body to respond to cold and then warm up again. Small blood vessels beneath the skin may swell more quickly when cold skin is re-heated than nearby larger blood vessels can accommodate.
Risk factors
The following elements raise the chance of developing chilblains:
wearing footwear that is too tight or exposes skin to the elements. Your risk of developing chilblains may increase if you wear shoes and clothes that are too tight in cold, wet weather.
Being a youthful lady. Females between the ages of 15 and 30 are most likely to suffer from this condition.
Being underweight. Individuals with low body mass are most commonly affected by this condition.
Living in a humid, cold climate. If you live somewhere with high humidity and cold, but not freezing, temperatures, you are more likely to get chilblains.
Possessing specific health issues. These consist of SARS-CoV-2, connective tissue disease, and Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Treatment
Self-care for chilblains at home includes keeping your hands and feet warm and dry. Your doctor may recommend medication if self-care doesn’t relieve your chilblain symptoms, such as:
A corticosteroid topical. Applying a corticosteroid, such as triamcinolone 0.1% cream, may help relieve the sores that are a symptom of your chilblains.
Medication for blood pressure. If other treatments are ineffective for your symptoms, your doctor may recommend a blood pressure medication like nifedipine (Procardia). This particular kind of calcium channel blocker works by increasing blood flow to relieve chilblains.
Prevention
To avoid having chilblains:
- Reduce or stay out of the cold as much as possible.
- Warm the skin gently after coming in from the cold.
- Wear mittens, a hat, a scarf, and water-resistant shoes in addition to layers of loose apparel.
- When going outside in cold weather, make sure you completely cover any exposed skin.
- Maintain a warm, dry face, feet, and hands.
- Make sure the places you work and live are warm enough.
- Avoid smoking.
