How do you treat chilblains on legs?

How do you treat chilblains on legs?

Chilblains often get better on their own after a week or two without treatment. It may help to use a soothing lotion, such as calamine or witch hazel, to relieve itching. Your pharmacist may also be able to recommend a suitable product. If your chilblains are severe and keep returning, speak to your GP.

What else could chilblains be?

Conditions that may present with a similar clinical picture to chilblains include: Connective tissue disorders in particular lupus erythematosus and sarcoidosis (lupus pernio). Chilblain lupus erythematosus is a form of cutaneous lupus that presents with similar clinical features to idiopathic chilblains.

How do I get rid of chilblains ASAP?

If you have chilblains, these are some home treatments you can try:

1. Resist the urge to scratch, as this will further damage the skin.
2. Use calamine lotion or witch hazel to soothe the itching.
3. Rub Deep Heat or similar onto the feet to promote heat and circulation.
4. Wear woollen or cotton socks.
5. Keep your whole body warm.

Why am I suddenly getting chilblains?

No one knows exactly what causes chilblains. They may be an abnormal reaction of your body to cold exposure followed by rewarming. Rewarming of cold skin can cause small blood vessels under the skin to expand more quickly than nearby larger blood vessels can handle.

What is the best cream for chilblains?

Calamine lotion and witch hazel are both soothing and cooling, whilst antiseptic should be applied to broken chilblains until medical attention is sought. A steroid cream rubbed onto the chilblains may reduce itch and soreness.

Why are chilblains so painful?

Once you warm up, these small vessels may expand too quickly. This may cause blood to leak into nearby tissue, resulting in swelling. The swelling then irritates nerves in the affected area, causing pain. Doctors aren’t sure why this happens, but it may be related to an unusual reaction to cold exposure and rewarming.

Are chilblains serious?

Chilblains don’t usually result in permanent injury. But the condition can lead to infection, which may cause severe damage if left untreated. The best approach to chilblains is to avoid developing them by limiting your exposure to cold, dressing warmly and covering exposed skin.

Is Vicks good for chilblains?

Warm them slowly using warm socks and indirect heat. Keep feet well moisturised to maintain elasticity to the skin surface. To increase circulation, use menthol or eucalyptus based products such as Vicks Vapour Rub or antiflamme.

Why do I keep getting chilblains?

Factors that may increase your risk of chilblains include: Clothing that is tight or exposes skin to the cold. Wearing tight-fitting clothing and shoes in cold, damp weather may make you more susceptible to chilblains. And skin that’s exposed to cold, damp conditions is more likely to develop chilblains.

What should you not do with chilblains?

Don’t

• do not put your feet or hands on a radiator or under hot water to warm them up.
• do not smoke or have drinks that have caffeine in them – this can affect the flow of blood in your fingers and toes.
• do not scratch or pick at your skin.

What do chilblains on toes look like?

Chilblains are small red itchy patches that can appear on toes and fingers after you’ve been in the cold, particularly in winter. They have a distinctive ‘dusky pink’ appearance and can be very tender and itchy. Sometimes they can look a bit like a bruise and sometimes toes can become quite swollen.

Do showers help chilblains?

At home, avoid applying heat directly to your hands and feet (such as getting straight into the bath or shower, or using a hot water bottle or heater; because warming up the area too quickly can make the symptoms worse. Also try not to wear clothing that is too tight as it restricts the blood flow to those areas.

How to know if you have chilblains on your thighs?

Chilblains usually develop few hours after exposure to cold. It appears as a small itchy patch on the skin, in this case on the thigh. There may be a solitary chilblain on the thigh or more than one. They may merge together to form a large red swollen area on the skin. There is severe itching and burning sensation on the thigh.

Why do I keep getting chilblains on my Skin?

Chilblains are lumps on the skin which come up as an abnormal reaction to the cold. They are usually red or purplish. They can be itchy or sore. Sometimes they come up when skin is warmed up too quickly after it has been cold. Nobody really knows why some people are prone to chilblains and others are luckier and don’t get them.

When do horse riders get chilblains on their thighs?

Horse riders especially during winter months may suffer from chilblain on their thighs. Chilblains usually develop few hours after exposure to cold. It appears as a small itchy patch on the skin, in this case on the thigh. There may be a solitary chilblain on the thigh or more than one.

Where do chilblains occur in the human body?

Generally chilblains occur in body parts which frequently remain exposed to cold environment. Therefore chilblains are common on toes, fingers, earlobes and nose. However, sometimes they can develop on other areas which are exposed to extreme cold such as heel, leg and thighs.