This often occurs on the hands and feet but sometimes appears on the ears or nose.
Unlikefrostbite, chilblains usually doesn’t cause permanent damage.
The main way to prevent it is by avoiding cold temperatures.
Carol Yepes / Getty Images
A class of drugs calledvasodilatorscan help ease pain and promote healing in people with severe or recurrent symptoms.
However, in some people, the vasoconstriction may be excessive and prolonged, depriving tissues of oxygen.
When this happens, the body will respond with extremeinflammationto force the blood vessels open.
This can cause microscopic tears that allow blood to seep from capillaries into surrounding tissues, leading to chilblains.
Why some people are affected by chilblains and others aren’t is poorly understood.
The discolored skin will blanch (turn white) if you press it.
Acute symptoms usually develop within hours of exposure to cold and persist for 24 hours or longer.
Diagnosis
Chilblains is most often diagnosed by the clinical signs and symptoms.
Many conditions can cause symptoms similar to chilblains, some of which may be serious.
This includes finding winter gloves and socks made with moisture-wicking textiles.
Quitting cigarettesis another consideration for this and many other health reasons.
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Nyssen A, Benhadou F, Magnee M, Andre J, Koopmansch C, Wautrech JC.Chilblains.Vasa.
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