How To Prevent and Provide The Best Treatment for Chilblains

Chilblains on Feet: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Chilblains can make winter particularly uncomfortable for your feet. They commonly appear on the toes after exposure to cold conditions and may cause red or purple areas of skin, itching, swelling, tenderness or a burning sensation.

For many people, chilblains return each winter, particularly when the weather becomes cold and damp.

Understanding why they occur — and avoiding sudden temperature changes — can help you look after your feet during the colder months.

What Are Chilblains?

Chilblains, also known as pernio, are an inflammatory reaction of the small blood vessels in the skin following exposure to cold conditions.

They most commonly affect areas such as the toes, fingers, heels and ears.

When cold skin warms again, the small blood vessels expand. In people who are susceptible to chilblains, this response can result in inflammation in the surrounding tissue.

What Do Chilblains Look and Feel Like?

Chilblains can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:

red, pink, blue or purple patches swelling around the toes itching burning or tingling tenderness or discomfort skin that feels sensitive when footwear rubs against it

More severe chilblains can sometimes blister or cause the skin to break down.

If you're unsure whether a skin change is a chilblain, particularly if it is painful, persistent, broken or showing signs of infection, it is best to have it assessed by a healthcare professional.

What Causes Chilblains on the Feet?

Chilblains are associated with the body's response to cold temperatures followed by warming.

Cold conditions cause the small blood vessels near the surface of the skin to narrow. Warming the feet too rapidly afterwards may contribute to the inflammatory response associated with chilblains.

This is why going directly from very cold feet to a very hot heater, hot-water bottle or very hot bath isn't generally recommended.

Cold and damp footwear can also make it difficult to keep the feet at a comfortable, consistent temperature.

What Is the Best Treatment for Chilblains?

If chilblains have already developed, the aim is generally to keep the affected area comfortably warm, protect the skin and avoid sudden temperature changes.

Warm Your Feet Gradually

Avoid trying to rapidly heat cold feet against a heater, with a very hot hot-water bottle or in very hot water.

Instead, allow your feet to warm gradually and keep them comfortably warm with socks and suitable footwear.

Keep Your Feet Dry

Damp socks and footwear can quickly make your feet cold.

Change wet socks as soon as possible and make sure your feet are thoroughly dried after bathing or showering, particularly around and between the toes.

Choose Warm Socks

During cold weather, socks made from materials such as wool or bamboo blends can be useful for keeping the feet comfortable.

The most important consideration is that your socks and shoes work together comfortably. Socks that are too thick for your footwear can make shoes tight and place additional pressure on sensitive toes.

Wear Suitable Winter Footwear

Enclosed footwear can provide more protection from cold conditions than open shoes.

Choose shoes or boots with enough room for your toes and socks without making the footwear excessively tight.

Should You Rub Chilblains?

Avoid vigorous rubbing or massaging of chilblains.

Although rubbing cold feet may seem like a quick way to warm them, chilblain-affected skin can be sensitive and easily irritated.

Gentle, gradual warming is preferable.

Can Chilblain Cream Help?

A foot cream can be useful as part of a winter foot-care routine, particularly when cold weather leaves the skin dry or uncomfortable.

For example, Akileine Akilwinter Cream is formulated for feet exposed to cold and damp winter conditions and also provides moisturising skin care.

How Can I Help Prevent Chilblains?

If you're prone to chilblains, prevention is particularly important because they can recur when cold weather returns.

Some practical steps include:

keeping your feet comfortably warm during cold weather avoiding prolonged exposure to cold and damp conditions changing wet socks and shoes promptly choosing warm, well-fitting socks wearing enclosed footwear in cold weather warming cold feet gradually rather than using intense direct heat keeping active rather than remaining still for long periods maintaining a regular moisturising routine if winter weather dries your skin

The aim isn't to make your feet extremely hot. It is to avoid them becoming very cold in the first place and minimise rapid changes from cold to hot.

Can You Get Chilblains Even When Wearing Socks?

Yes. Socks can help keep your feet warm, but they don't guarantee that chilblains won't occur.

Very cold conditions, damp socks, tight footwear and individual susceptibility can all play a role.

Also consider the combination of your socks and shoes. A very thick sock squeezed into a tight shoe isn't necessarily better than a moderately warm sock that allows your footwear to fit comfortably.

How Long Do Chilblains Last?

Chilblains often improve as the skin recovers and cold exposure is reduced, but the time this takes can vary.

If an area isn't improving, repeatedly returns, becomes increasingly painful or swollen, develops broken skin or appears infected, seek medical advice.

When Should I See a Doctor or Podiatrist?

Seek professional advice if you have severe or persistent symptoms, broken or ulcerated skin, signs of infection, significant pain, or you're unsure whether the area is actually a chilblain.

People with conditions that can affect circulation or healing should also be particularly cautious about unexplained colour or skin changes in their feet and seek appropriate professional advice.

Looking After Cold Feet During Winter

For people who regularly experience cold feet or chilblains, small everyday habits can make a difference.

Keeping your feet dry, wearing appropriate socks and enclosed footwear, avoiding sudden intense heating and looking after dry winter skin are all sensible parts of winter foot care.

You can also explore our Winter Foot Care range for warming foot creams, moisturisers and other products selected for colder-weather foot care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chilblains

What are chilblains?

Chilblains, also known as pernio, are small areas of inflammation that can develop after the skin has been exposed to cold conditions. They commonly affect the toes and may cause redness or purple discolouration, swelling, itching, burning or tenderness.

What causes chilblains on the toes?

Chilblains are associated with the skin's inflammatory response to cold conditions and subsequent warming. They are more likely to occur during cold or damp weather and can return each winter in people who are susceptible to them.

What is the best way to treat chilblains on the feet?

Keep your feet comfortably warm and dry and allow cold feet to warm gradually. Avoid very hot water, direct heat and vigorous rubbing of affected skin. If chilblains are severe, persistent, broken or particularly painful, seek advice from a doctor or podiatrist.

Should I put my feet in hot water if I have chilblains?

Avoid using very hot water to rapidly warm cold feet affected by chilblains. Sudden temperature changes may aggravate symptoms. Instead, warm your feet gradually and use comfortable socks and enclosed footwear to help maintain warmth.

What socks are best for chilblains?

Choose comfortable socks that help keep your feet warm and dry. Wool and bamboo-blend socks are popular choices for winter. Make sure your socks don't make your shoes too tight, particularly if your toes are already swollen or sensitive.

How long do chilblains last?

Chilblains often improve as the skin recovers and exposure to cold is reduced, although recovery time varies. If they aren't improving, repeatedly return, become increasingly painful or develop broken skin, see a podiatrist.

Why do I keep getting chilblains every winter?

Some people are more susceptible to chilblains and find that they return during colder weather. Keeping your feet comfortably warm and dry, reducing exposure to cold and damp conditions and avoiding rapid heating of cold feet may help reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

When should I see a health professional about chilblains?

Seek medical advice if the affected area is severely painful, isn't improving, becomes increasingly swollen, develops broken or ulcerated skin, shows signs of infection, or you're unsure whether the skin changes are actually chilblains.