What should you do when you have chilblains?
April 10, 2009
Chilblains are also called perniosis or blains. It is a medical condition which is often confused with frostbite. Prolonged exposure to cold weather can damage the capillary beds in the skin. This in turn, causes redness, itching, blisters and inflammation. Chilblains usually affect toes more than any other part of the body.
Inflammation of the skin on toes and redness of the nose are some of the common symptoms of chilblains. Chilblains can be avoided by keeping your skin moist and by wearing shoes that keep your feet warm and at the same time, give them room to breathe. Although the exact cause of chilblains is not known, it is triggered by extremely cold weather, especially damp coldness and by poor circulation.
Treating chilblains starts with telling yourself not to scratch the part of skin affected by it. Chilblains, usually cause irritation and scratching the affected area will only worsen the situation. You can soothe the area by gently massaging it with a gentle antiseptic cream. It is important to try and walk around as much as possible to increase the blood circulation to your toes. This is one of the most natural ways to treat chilblains.
Make sure you wear shoes that do not constrict your feet too much. This will help you give them the much needed space to breathe, thus helping you recover. Visiting a podiatrist will help you treat chilblains in the most fitting manner.