This is the time of the year chilblains most often rear their ugly heads, and they can be annoying, not to mention painful.
No one knows exactly what causes chilblains. They appear to be an abnormal reaction of the body to cold exposure followed by rewarming. The rewarming of cold skin can cause small blood vessels under the skin to expand more quickly than the nearby larger blood vessels can handle. This results in a bottleneck effect, with blood leaking into nearby tissues.
Chilblains usually affect the hands and/or feet, most commonly fingers and toes. The affected area becomes swollen and changes colour to anything from red to dark blue. As mentioned above, chilblains are often painful and irritating. The area can also feel itchy and/or burning. Blistering can sometimes occur.
Factors that may increase your risk of chilblains include:
■ Wearing tight or skin exposing clothing
■ Gender and weight. Women are more likely to get chilblains than children and males. Lighter weight people have an increased risk of chilblains.
■ Environment and season. Those living in an areas with high humidity and cold, but not freezing, temperatures are more likely to suffer from chilblains.
■ Poor circulation. People with poor circulation tend to be more sensitive to changes in temperature, making them more susceptible to chilblains.
■ Those diagnosed with Raynaud's disease.
Chilblains will usually take one to three weeks to clear, and often clear simultaneously with warmer weather. It is not uncommon to have recurrences seasonally for years. Although chilblains are not likely to cause permanent injury, they can lead to infection, which may cause damage if left untreated.
Chilblains generally get better on their own. However, seeking medical care is advised if the pain is unusually severe, you suspect an infection, or if symptoms extend into summer. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, healing may be impaired so be cautious.
