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.
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.