What is the best treatment for chilblains?

There are a couple of creams and lotions that can treat chilblains.

Balmosa is a topical cream containing menthol, camphor, methyl salicylate and capsicum:

• Capsicum helps to dilate blood vessels and increase circulation. This increases warmth in the area, which helps reduce inflammation and redness.
• Camphor has anti-irritant properties, which help you stop itching, and prevent infections.
• Salicylate and menthol help to relieve pain.

Witch Hazel and calamine are two different soothing lotions that help relieve the symptoms of chilblains, like itching. They create a cooling effect, which removes the feeling of itchiness. This is helpful because continuous itching can cause broken chilblains, which can be harder to treat.

In some cases, chilblains can be painful, especially if they become swollen. Taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain associated with chilblains. However, although they offer pain relief, they won't directly heal them, so you might still need another treatment.

There are two types of chilblains:

1. Unbroken chilblains - The common type, characterised by red and purple patches, swelling and inflammation.
2. Broken chilblains - When the affected area becomes damaged, it can lead to opened skin surfaces, making it vulnerable to bacterial infections. If this happens, antibiotics might be needed to clear the infection. As the affected area is sensitive, it’s important not to scratch the skin, because this can make the problem worse.

If you have persistent or severe chilblains then you might be prescribed a capsule called Nifedipine. This is a calcium blocker that relaxes the smooth muscles of the arteries, reducing resistance in blood flow which increases circulation. One study found Nifedipine significantly reduced the time it takes to heal chilblains and improved associated symptoms like pain and lesions.

Topical steroids may also be prescribed to treat persistent chilblains. Although they’re an effective treatment, steroids can cause problematic side effects. So it's best to try other options first.

There are some things you can do at home to heal your chilblains faster. Chilblains are caused by poor circulation due to cold temperatures – so most of the home remedies aim to increase blood circulation and keep warm.

1. Exercising - Moving your body can help increase your body's internal temperature. This raises your temperature and helps circulation.
2. Eating a hot meal - Hot food can help to warm up your entire body, helping circulation.
3. Wearing warm clothes - Thermal clothing, gloves, and socks can help retain body heat, especially in cold temperatures. But this doesn’t always mean wearing multiple layers. Layering up too much can stop blood flow so instead, wear high-quality clothing, like compression socks and wool clothing.
4. Keeping your house heated - Chilblains can be caused by damp and drafty areas. So it’s always a good idea to get damp or unsealed doors and windows fixed. If you do have a heater on, it's also best not to sit too close to it, or place your hands or feet near it. This is because too much heat at once rapidly increases blood circulation at a rate that can cause your blood vessels to break, leading to swelling and pain.
5. Stopping smoking - Smoking decreases circulation and increases your risk of chilblains. If you get recurrent chilblains and smoke, try to quit smoking to help reduce your chances of getting it again.

Even though these home remedies to treat chilblains may not always be successful, trying them can still be worthwhile because they can help to improve your health in other ways.