They crop up during the winter months, thrive in damp, cold weather, and are thought to affect one in 10 people in the UK. However, you don’t need to suffer – here’s our guide to dealing with chilblains…
What are chilblains?
"Chilblains are small, itchy or painful red swellings on the skin that occur as a reaction to cold temperatures," explains GP Dr Ross Perry. "They normally affect the body’s extremities: fingers, toes, heels, the ears and nose, and can last for several months."
You’ll usually notice them developing several hours after exposure to the cold, and experience a burning and itching sensation on the affected areas, which can become more intense if you go into a warm room. In severe cases, the surface of the skin might break and sores or blisters can develop, but they usually heal by themselves within a few weeks.
What causes chilblains?
When your skin is cold, blood vessels near its surface get narrower. If the skin is then exposed to heat, the blood vessels get wider. But if this happens too quickly – for example, if you come in out of the cold and plunge your hands or feet into hot water, or hold them next to a radiator to warm up – the blood vessels near the surface of the skin can’t always handle the increased blood flow.
This can cause blood to leak into the surrounding tissue, which may cause the swelling and itchiness associated with chilblains. If you are affected, try to avoid tight clothing that rubs against the swollen areas of skin.
Who’s at risk?
"Chilblains are just as common in elderly people as they are in children," explains Dr Perry. However, some people are more at risk than others, and the factors include:
● Having poor circulation.
● Having a family history of chilblains.
● Having a poor diet, or low body weight.
● Regular exposure to cold, damp, or draughty conditions.
● Suffering from lupus, a long-term condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues.
● Being a smoker: nicotine constricts blood vessels.
● Having Raynaud’s disease, a condition that affects blood supply to parts of the body, including fingers and toes.
● Having a bunion or wearing shoes that are too tight and exert pressure on your toes.
How to avoid chilblains
"My biggest tip, apart from to stop smoking, is to keep warm," advises Dr Anton Alexandroff, consultant dermatologist at BMI The Manor Hospital in Bedfordshire.
"It’s important for your whole body to be warm," he continues, "because if one part gets cold, it tends to cause blood vessels to constrict in other parts of the body – so you could have perfectly warm feet, but still get chilblains."
He also advises:
- Avoid extremes of hot and cold – try to stay in ambient temperatures.
- Wear gloves when you’re out in the cold.
- Keep feet warm with fleece-lined shoes or boots, but avoid tight socks.
- Keep away from draughts.
- Wash your hands in warm water, rather than hot.
- Drink plenty of warm drinks or soup.
- Get your circulation going with some gentle exercise.
How to treat chilblains
Chilblains often get better without treatment, but it might help to use a soothing lotion, such as Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Gel (Boots), or Calamine (Boots) to relieve itching.
"Some people swear by using natural remedies, such as Calendula Cream (Holland & Barrett), or eating pepper or chilli peppers," explains Dr Perry.
"Calendula is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties that could help reduce pain, while capsaicin, which gives chilli its fiery edge, stimulates receptors in the gut, which can then boost circulation in the hands, feet and head."
However, if you are in severe pain, or the chilblains keep returning, speak to your GP. They may recommend taking a daily tablet of a medication called nifedipine, which works by relaxing the blood vessels, therefore improving your circulation.
Dr Ross Perry works for cosmedics.co.uk
