Chilblains - Burning, Itchy, Swollen Feet, Help!

Updated on February 28, 2012
J.K. asks from Audubon, IA
4 answers

I've had this problem since I was 15 years old and just a few months ago I found out it has a name. Does anyone else have Chilblains? Right now my feet are soooo hot and itchy it's just killing me. The only solution I ever find is to put them in ice cold water.

I'm more than certain that this is related to my connective tissue disease so I'm hoping to get a soltuation to this as well as everything else I go through.

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S.T.

answers from Houston on

Ah yes, chilblains! One of the more common problems I had to deal with as a podiatrist in the UK - it's cold and damp a lot over there, perfect for chilblains. Chilblains generally play up the most if your feet get cold, then you heat them up too quickly, so you need to try and keep your feet at a constant temperature. If you go out in the cold you need wool socks and insulated shoes, when you come in from the cold, don't stick your feet in front of the fire to warm them up quickly or use a foot spa, or soak your feet in bowls of warm water (don't know if you do that) but this consticting of the tiny blood vessels in your toes (or ears/nose etc), then rapid dilation as you warm them up too quickly. I don't know what connective tissue disease you have, but if you have scleroderma, then it is a very common problem because your skin and blood vessels are so unyielding and firm. There are various things you can paint on to try and ease them, but once they are there they are hard to get rid of - you need to try and stop them coming in the first place!
One remedy we used to recommend in the UK was friars balsam, paint it on, it helps a little.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

a web site says to try chalomine lotion and lanolin (helps with circulation). that seems like a painful thing to deal with.

1 mom found this helpful

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

When I lived in England I got chilblains from the cold and they hurt and yet they go away. It's more or less frost bite. I am adding a link here to see if that helps any.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chilblains/DS01091
I would think the cold is making it worse from my experience. If you have a disease though maybe that is causing it to be worse.

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L.Z.

answers from Bismarck on

Try to keep your feet warm and dry. If you go out in the cold, use wool socks that will keep your feet warm. Smart wool that wicks up any moisture is good for indoors as well. If you start to feel your toes get cold, then it is time to get inside right away. If you already have chilblains, it might help to use a calming creme on them like Eucerin.

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