Health & Beauty Health Matters: Chilblains

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My mother has developed itchy red lumps on her skin recently and has informed me that she's certain they're chilblains. I've never been quite sure what people mean when they refer to chilblains, so I have no idea whether she's right or not. I've always assumed they are something that's associated with cold weather, but other than that have no idea what could cause them. Could you shed any light please?

A While this description could be symptomatic of one of a number of things, your mother is right that one cause could indeed be chilblains - and you are right in thinking that cold weather will herald their appearance.

Chilblains are basically raised, itchy spots that appear on the skin as a reaction to it being exposed to cold temperatures.

Symptoms typically occur within a few hours of such exposure and the parts of the body most likely to be affected are those most susceptible to extreme temperatures - such as the toes, ears, fingers and nose, although other areas can be affected in some cases.

Chilblains are actually very common and around one in 10 people in the UK suffer with them at some point.

They occur when the small blood vessels under the skin constrict as a reaction to a drop in temperature, causing blood supply to slow to certain areas.

As the skin then warms up, a certain amount of fluid can leak from the blood vessels into the body's tissues, causing areas of inflammation which manifest themselves in the form of chilblains.

People who suffer with bad circulation or any condition that affects the blood vessels are more likely to develop chilblains, but they can affect absolutely anyone - although they are most likely to be a problem for women rather than men, the elderly and children.

In the severest cases, chilblains can become prolonged and the constant appearance of sores over a period of time can lead to scarring.

But this is rare and in general, chilblains will disappear naturally after about a fortnight.

That said, they can be quite uncomfortable and the itchiness can cause discomfort and irritation for the sufferer.

Chilblains do not generally respond well to treatment and will normally run their course (antiseptic creams are available if they do blister), but there are things sufferers can do to help ease discomfort and hopefully prevent a future outbreak.

One of the most basic, but important things, is to keep warm.

The cold is the main factor in getting chilblains in the first place, so wrap up in suitably warm clothing, paying particular attention to the extremities of the hands and feet, etc.

Scarves, gloves, thick socks and ear muffs all have a job to do.

Even warming clothes and shoes on a radiator before you put them on will help to ensure you're warm from the inside out, as will plenty of hot drinks and meals.

If you have been exposed to the cold and are looking to warm up, it's important to try and do this gradually, as you may cause more damage by reaching for a boiling hot water bottle for example.

Allow your body to warm up gradually to a comfortable point.

If you smoke, then stop, or at least cut down as much as you can. Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels which simply exacerbates the condition.

Try and maintain a good level of physical activity, as this will help with circulation and be mindful of any medication you may be taking that could have an impact - decongestants can actually cause narrowing of the blood vessels so be aware of side effects.

In general, chilblains will cause no lasting damage, but without a consultation it's difficult to provide a full diagnosis.

If the symptoms become overly painful or last for more than a fortnight, then your mum should book an appointment with her GP, just to get things checked out properly.

* Dr Joanna Longstaffe is clinical director of the Independent General Practice

Additional information:

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