Chilblains

Chilblains are a painful reaction of the small blood vessels in the skin when exposed to cold temperatures. It mostly affects the toes, but can affect the fingers, nose and ears. Normally, cold causes constriction of the small blood vessels in the skin and if rewarming of the skin happens too rapidly, there is leakage of blood and fluids into the tissues as the blood vessels do not respond quickly enough to this rewarming. So chilblains are not really casued by the cold, but more by a too rapid warming up after the toes after they get cold. Chilblains are not very common in countries where the cold is more extreme as the air is drier. The living conditions and clothing used in these climates are protective. Chilblains are more likely to occur in those with poor circulation, but chilblains can still be common in those with good circulation.

Croydon Total Footcare can provide chilblain advice and treatment.

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