These are small areas of painful or itchy swellings in the extremities — affecting fingers, toes, nose, and ears. 

Chilblains are common in all age groups and typically don’t cause long term damage. They appear when the body has been exposed to extremely cold temperatures and initially present as an itchy red patch. On occasion, chilblains can blister — causing small wounds on the toes that will require regular dressing to prevent infection. 

The most efficient way to avoid chilblains is simply to avoid cold temperatures. If and when you’ve been exposed to the cold, however, it’s best to heat the limbs slowly when returning to a warmer environment. 

We advise wearing wool socks, double layering legs with thermals or leggings, keeping feet dry and heating the body with a warm drink rather than direct heat to the feet.