What is the cause and treatment of chilblains?
Chilblains are an defective reaction of the little blood vessels within the skin on the feet to alterations in ambient temperature. Typically the abnormal reaction produces a painful reddish colored itching lesion that will subsequently turns a darker bluish colour as waste material build up. Chilblains are more widespread in the colder locations.
Normally if the feet get colder, the little blood vessels within the skin close up to save heat after which once the skin is warmed up after that those little blood vessels open. That is a normal procedure.
Whenever a chilblain happens these little blood vessels for some not known reason stay shut down more than they should as the epidermis warms up. Because of this the metabolism demands of the skin just isn't being supplied from the circulation coming from these little arteries. Then, typically, the blood vessels can swiftly open leading to a red area on the skin related to inflammation. With all the release of inflammatory mediators this lesion on the skin can become itchy and painful. Since the waste products in the skin build up out of this process it shifts to a darker color. This will gradually get better. It can be persistent if perhaps yet another chilblain happens as the result of recurrent cold exposures instead of taking precautionary measures.
Chilblains don't seem to be caused by “cold”; they can be the result of a too rapid warming up of the foot right after it's cold and the blood vessels that were restricted aren't given time to open by gradually warming the feet. Poor blood circulation isn't the reason for chilblains, but its how the blood circulation responds to adjustments to temperatures which is the problem. An abundance of younger people who have very good circulation get them.
The prevention of chilblains is actually by firstly not letting the feet become cold after which should you become cool to let the foot to warm-up slowly. The treating of chilblains should be to protect the spot and promote the circulation and prevent another one from occurring.