What are Chilblains and How Do You Get Them?

Article Highlights:

• Chilblains are a vasospastic disorder that causes swollen and itchy patches of skin in the extremities, most commonly in the fingers and toes, in response to cold weather.

• Chilblains are caused by exposure to cold weather, and people with poor circulation, a family history of chilblains, and other conditions like Raynaud’s syndrome and lupus are more prone to them.

• Podiatrists can diagnose and treat chilblains by assessing the affected toes and providing information on appropriate footwear and foot care during the cooler months.

• Home treatment options for chilblains include wearing warm socks, rewarming the affected skin slowly, keeping the affected skin dry and warm, and avoiding cold exposure.

• If left untreated, chilblains can progress and result in an open wound (ulcer) that can get infected and cause significant pain, and in worst case scenarios, lead to amputations.

If you’ve ever developed swollen and itchy patches of skin in the cooler months, chances are you’ve had chilblains.

Chilblains are common and can affect people of all ages. In this piece, we’re going to give you an overview of everything you need to know about chilblains.

What are chilblains?

Chilblains are a vasospastic disorder in which the small blood vessels in the extremities – most commonly in the fingers and toes – respond to stimuli like cold weather by constricting and limiting blood flow.

This initial vascular limitation means that there is a lack of oxygen and nutrients supplied to the affected body tissue meaning initially the toes will appear white.

The second phase of chilblains involves the vessels rapidly opening back up. The rapid return of blood does damage, with the toes suddenly going a bright red colour.

This repeated deprivation of oxygen and blood flow results in damage to the area affected causing redness, pain, irritation and in some cases ulceration and infection.

What causes chilblains?

Chilblains are a result of exposure to cold weather, thus making them far more common in cold climate areas, particularly during winter.

People with poor circulation are particularly prone to chilblains as are those with a family history of chilblains.

Chilblains are also linked to other conditions like Raynaud’s syndrome and lupus, and are also more common in smokers.

Why would you see a podiatrist for chilblains?

Children often suffer from chilblains as they don’t always tend to wear the appropriate footwear during cold weather seasons.

Chilblains can be very painful for children so seeking treatment for them can help relieve their discomfort.

We can help by confirming that you or your child actually has chilblains, as well as assess the types of footwear that are being worn. We can also provide information regarding how to take care of yours or your child’s feet during the cooler months too.

How are chilblains diagnosed?

Chilblains do not normally require any formal testing to be diagnosed. A trained podiatrist will make the diagnosis by assessing the affected toes and learning about the medical history of their patient.

Are there any other conditions that chilblains could be misdiagnosed as?

Chilblains are a relatively easy diagnosis for an experienced podiatrist but other conditions that can present similarly to chilblains are frostbite, lupus pernio, vasculitis and microgeodic disease.

Who is most likely to get chilblains?

Anyone could get chilblains, though some people who are more susceptible to them include:

• People who are at higher risk for chilblains are:
• Smokers
• People with Poor circulation
• Those with a Family history of chilblains
• The elderly
• Children

What do chilblains feel like?

Very mild chilblains may have no real symptoms but leave the toes with red appearance and they may feel cold and numb.

As the chilblains progress towards more serious lesions, you may experience itching and discomfort and if the lesions become severe you will experience significant pain if they ulcerate or become infected.

How are they treated?

Chilblains are often quite difficult to treat but there are some treatment options that you can try at home as well as those that we could help with at our clinic.

Home treatment options:

• Wearing warm socks outside during winter
• Try to make sure your shoes do not get wet on the inside. Ensure that your feet still fit well into your shoes when wearing thicker socks.
• Rewarm the affected skin slowly and gently, without massaging, rubbing or applying direct heat.
• Avoid cold exposure whenever possible.
• Keep the affected skin dry and warm, but away from sources of heat.
• Apply lotion to alleviate itching, such as hydrocortisone cream available in chemists.
• Keep any blisters and sores clean and covered.
• Avoid scratching the affected skin.
• If you smoke, try to quit, as smoking can narrow your blood vessels and slow wound healing.

Treatment options available at the clinic and through your doctor:

K Laser Treatment

At hurst podiatry we offer K-laser treatment for chilblains which can be extremely effective against chilblains. You can learn more about how K-laser therapy works when you have chilblains here.

Prescribed medicines

Blood pressure medicine. For symptoms that don’t respond to other treatment, your health care provider might prescribe a blood pressure medicine such as nifedipine (Procardia). It’s a type of calcium channel blocker that treats chilblains by improving blood flow.

It’s important to be aware that if the chilblain lesions do ulcerate or blister, it is extremely important to prevent infection by appropriate dressing and ensuring the area is clean. We suggest in this scenario you seek medical assistance.

What if you don’t have them treated what happens?

If you don’t treat the chilblains they can get progressively worse and result in an open wound (ulcer) which can get infected and cause significant pain if not dressed or looked after properly. In worst case scenarios in people with vascular compromise these infections can result in amputations.

Do you have Chilblains in Melbourne?

If you’re located in Melbourne’s East and suspect that you might have chilblains, you can always come and see us here at Hurst Podiatry. In fact, if you are experiencing pain, discomfort or something unusual with your feet and/or lower limbs, book in to see one of our amazing podiatrists at our clinics. We have 5 podiatry clinics in Melbourne’s East, in Croydon, Mooroolbark, Kilsyth and two in Healesville.

Call us on 03 5901 2216 or book online here.