Chilblains are skin lesions that occur mainly in the cold months. They cause discomfort and sometimes severe pain.
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the appearance of chilblains during the colder months it is quite common. These are skin lesions that cause intense discomfort and can affect various parts of the body.
So that you are not taken by surprise, we indicate the best way to identify them from the moment the first symptoms appear.
Chilblains: What Are They?
These are skin lesions that appear due to the physical action of cold on superficial blood vessels. They are more frequent in the winter season and in areas with higher altitudes.
So that you can understand better, the skin has several blood vessels on its surface through which blood circulates permanently. In this way, an adaptation to the ambient temperature is then allowed.
Bearing in mind that there are people who are more sensitive than others and that the contraction of blood vessels by cold is physiological, people who are more sensitive to lower temperatures will contract more blood vessels. This action prevents blood from circulating to the extremities of the body. What happens in these cases is that the skin in these areas of the body does not heat up and the first symptoms of chilblains appear.
Chilblains can appear at any age, and they can appear with different degrees of intensity and recurrently.
symptoms of chilblains
Chilblains are uncomfortable and are characterized by the manifestation of very uncomfortable symptoms namely:
- Cracks;
- Blisters;
- Pain;
- Cold, red skin;
- Numb and hard skin;
- White or pale skin, sometimes even bluish;
- Itching;
- Swelling.
What are the areas most affected by chilblains?
At The areas most affected by chilblains are usually the extremities of the body such as the hands, nose, ears and feet.because they are more exposed to the cold and we always try to warm them up.
Chilblains can also appear on other parts of the body, but less frequently.
If you practice outdoor physical activity, you should always keep these areas warm. A good tip is to use proper gloves for each activity. In this way, you will be preventing the appearance of chilblains.
How to prevent chilblains
If you think that the skin works as a protective barrier against different external aggressions, then you will realize that special care is needed.
- Moisturize your skin daily: we talk about all zones of your body without apologies. It is extremely important that you take care of your skin and hydration plays a key role in preventing the appearance of chilblains.
- Protect the most unprotected areas of your body well during the winter: the use of gloves, for example, can help a lot.
- Don’t expose yourself too much to the cold: we know it’s not always easy, but you should limit the time you are exposed to cold, wind and humidity.
- Opt for loose shoes and clothes: you must not wear tight clothing or uncomfortable shoes. This will allow for good blood circulation in your body.
- Practice physical activity: walking counts too! You don’t necessarily have to go to the gym or practice some sport🇧🇷
- Eat healthy food and drink lots of water: if you eat healthy and avoid sugars, you will be protected against inflammation, for example.
How to treat chilblains
If you suspect you may have chilblains after reading this article, you should talk to your doctor to be sure of the problem. Otherwise, you may be using a treatment that may not be ideal for you.
In addition to all preventive measures, the treatment of chilblains may include taking medication with vasodilator action. This measure can only be applied by a doctor and with a prescription, and is applied in more serious cases of chilblains, when basic daily care is not having any effect in reducing symptoms.
So that you have no doubts about this topic, Know that you should see your doctor when:
- The skin begins to turn pale or whitish and with the presence of blisters;
- If symptoms like redness and pain get worse;
- If new symptoms appear in addition to those you had previously;
- If you have a fever;
- If you experience severe pain or difficulty moving the affected area.
As you can see there is no specific treatment for chilblains. Depending on each case and severity, different measures can be applied to treat this malady.
Article originally published in October 2021. Updated in September 2022.
