Chilblains
What are chilblains?
Symptoms of chilblains
Risk factors for chilblains
Natural home remedies / cures / treatment for chilblains
What are chilblains?
Chilblains (pernio or perniosis) are painful or itchy spots on the extremities of the hands and feet caused by the inflammation of small blood vessels (vasculitis).
Chilblains are caused by too rapid overheating of the skin after being exposed to cold, damp, non-freezing conditions for an extended period. The sudden increase in temperature causes painful inflammation of the small blood vessels. The inflammation / vasculitis is probably caused by the small blood vessels expanding more quickly than the adjacent larger blood vessels can handle, causing a "bottleneck" and resulting in blood leakage into nearby tissue.
Chilblains usually clear up on their own within one to three weeks. However, the condition can recur for years. Chilblains can be particularly painful and can lead to infection and more serious complications if left untreated. Treatment is easily and cheaply available, because natural home remedies are particularly effective.
Chilblains are often confused with gout, Raynaud's disease or frostbite. Frostbite occurs when skin tissue freezes after exposure to severe cold. Frostbite commonly occurs as cold, hard white skin and numbness in the hands or feet.
Symptoms of chilblains
- Chilblains usually occur on the tips of toes and fingers, but can also occur on the hands, feet, nose and ears.
- Burning pain or itching.
- Redness, purple to violet-coloured patches on the hands or feet.
- Swelling and inflammation.
- In extreme cases, blistering and ulcers.
Risk factors for chilblains
- Being underweight, having low body mass index.
- Chilblains can affect all age groups, but are most common in young to middle-aged adults. They are not common in young children. If the first ever occurrence of a chilblain is in an elderly person an underlying cause should be sought.
- Women have a higher incidence than men.
- Raynaud's disease increases the risk.
- Smoking.
- A job or sport exposed to icy conditions followed by rapid heating.
Natural home remedies / cures / treatment for chilblains
- Avoid temperature extremes. Dress warmly and make sure the extremities are well protected with socks or gloves when in the cold. Warm the hands and feet moderately rather than with excessive heat when coming in from the cold. Do not apply a very hot water bottle directly to the skin.
- Exercise that promotes circulation (cardiovascular exercise). For example, if itch or pain starts, go for a brisk walk.
- Apply a cream that heats such as red heat, Vicks vaporub or tiger balm.
- Avoid dairy, sugar (fructose) and gluten products.
- Honey (especially Manuka honey) or bee propolis applied topically (to the skin.)
- Aloe vera applied to the skin.
- Soak the affected fingers, toes or skin in warm urine before bed. Towel dry but do not rinse. Wear socks to bed.
- Vitamin K2 sufficiency.
- Zinc sufficiency.
- Soak in warm Epson salts in a bath or basin (not too hot).
- Elevate your feet if they are swollen.
- Neem oil.
- Black pepper essential oil relieves itching. Lavender, peppermint and tea tree essential oils relieve the pain.
- Calamine lotion, especially for itching.
If you use any remedies from Grow Youthful, please come back next week (or whenever you have an outcome) and let us know about your experience. Please leave a comment as many people are interested.
See details of remedies recommended by Grow Youthful visitors, and their experience with them.