Chilblains
Chilblains
Chilblains are small, itchy patches that can appear on your skin after you've been in the cold.
Check if you have chilblains
Chilblains usually appear a few hours after you've been in the cold.
You mostly get them on your fingers and toes. But you can also get them on your face and legs.
![Close-up of chilblains on the toes of a person with white skin. The tips of the toes are swollen and red.](https://i0.wp.com/assets.nhs.uk/nhsuk-cms/images/C0044235.width-320.jpg?resize=581%2C387&ssl=1)
![Chilblains on the toes of a person with dark brown skin. The tips of the toes are swollen and slightly red and purple.](https://i0.wp.com/assets.nhs.uk/nhsuk-cms/images/S_1018_chilblains_F0029948.width-320.jpg?resize=584%2C389&ssl=1)
What you can do about chilblains
Chilblains usually go away on their own in 2 to 3 weeks.
There are some things you can try to get rid of them yourself and stop them coming back.
- try to avoid being outside when it's cold or damp – if you do go out, wear warm, waterproof clothing, gloves and thick socks
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain
If you are suffering from chilblains do not
- put your feet or hands on a radiator or under hot water to warm them up
- smoke or have drinks that have caffeine in them – this can affect the flow of blood in your fingers and toes
- scratch or pick at your skin
Causes of chilblains
- You can get chilblains when it's cold. The cold makes the tiny blood vessels in your fingers and toes get smaller. This stops blood from moving around as easily.
- If you warm up too quickly, the blood vessels get bigger again and blood rushes to your fingers and toes. This can cause pain or swelling.