Table of Contents

What is Chilblains

Chilblains are little, scratchy, red spots that can appear after you have actually remained in the cold. They normally clear up by themselves. You might require to see a GP if they do not disappear.

Check if you have Chilblains

Chilblains normally appear a couple of hours after you have actually remained in the cold.
You mainly get them on your fingers and toes. But you can get them on your face and legs, too.
Your skin can feel scratchy or like it’s burning
Your fingers or toes might end up being red or inflamed

What you can do about Chilblains

Chilblains normally disappear by themselves in 2 to 3 weeks.

There are things you can attempt to:

eliminate them yourself
stop them returning

take paracetamol or ibuprofen to alleviate the discomfort
prevent being outside when it’s cold or wet
wear warm, water resistant clothes, gloves and thick socks if you do head out when it’s cold or wet

Don’t

do not put your feet or hands on a radiator or under warm water to warm them up
do not smoke or have beverages that have caffeine in them– this can impact the circulation of blood in your fingers and toes
do not scratch or choose at your skin

You can ask a pharmacist about:

the very best pain reliever to take
creams that can assist to relieve the itching
whether you require to see a GP

Find a pharmacy

Non-immediate guidance: See a GP if:

your skin has actually not got any much better after 2 to 3 weeks
there is pus coming out of your skin
your temperature level is extremely high or you feel hot or shivery
you keep getting chilblains
you have diabetes– foot issues can be more severe if you have diabetes

What occurs at your visit

A GP will examine where it harms to see if you have chilblains.
They might require to refer you for additional tests with a professional if they’re unsure why you’re getting chilblains.
Rarely, the GP will recommend a medication that can assist your chilblains clean up.

Causes of Chilblains

You can get chilblains when it’s cold. The cold makes the small capillary in your fingers and toes get smaller sized. This stops blood moving as quickly.

If you heat up too rapidly, the capillary grow once again and blood hurries to your fingers and toes. This can trigger discomfort, soreness and swelling.