Swollen and itchy fingers and toes in winter, how to deal with it?
In winter, when the weather is very cold, many people feel very uncomfortable and even lose sleep because their toes and fingers are swollen, red, itchy and stinging.
Along with the problem of dry, itchy skin, cold, dry weather like today also causes outbreaks of chronic skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), hives, psoriasis... Especially when the weather is...severe cold, many people with chilblains have to go to the hospital.
Chilblains tend to appear more in areas of the skin with poor blood supply, especially the extremities. The disease manifests as red or purple soft spots and patches of skin in response to cold. This is a localized form of vasculitis.
The disease usually occurs in children and the elderly in cold, humid climates. In children, the disease appears every winter for several years, then gradually decreases and disappears. In the elderly, the disease tends to get worse unless the triggering factors are avoided.
The cause of chilblains is closely related to cold, humid climates. Chilblains occurs after several hours of exposure to cold. Cold temperatures cause the small arteries and veins of the skin to constrict. However, there are cases of chilblains occurring after exposure to sunlight, because warm weather causes blood to leak into the tissues, causing swelling of the skin.
Factors that aggravate the disease
- Family history of similar illness
- Peripheral vascular diseases: diabetes, smoking, hyperlipidemia
- Thin, malnourished people
- Hormonal changes
- Connective tissue diseases: Lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, Raynaud's phenomenon, bone marrow disorders.
Clinical manifestations of chilblains
Red, itchy, red or purple patches or bumps on the skin that subside after 7-14 days or longer. In severe cases, the patient may have blisters, pus, or ulcers.
The lesions are sometimes ring-shaped, may become thick and last for several months. Common locations include the dorsum and sides of the fingers, toes, heels, lower limbs, thighs, children's wrists, nose, and ears.
According to a study at the Central Dermatology Hospital, the main clinical manifestations are swollen lesions, red or purple skin (71.4%); blisters (21.4%) sometimes resembling a target, ulcers and infections (21.4%). 100% of patients had itching; more than 64% had pain at the lesions.
The main locations of lesions were the hands and feet. More than half of the patients had lesions on both hands and feet, while the rate of lesions only on the hands was 14.3% and on the feet was 28.6%.
Treatment and prevention
Chilblains respond poorly to treatment, corticosteroid creams can be used for a few days to reduce itching and inflammation. If there is a secondary infection, use topical or oral antibiotics depending on the severity.
If symptoms last too long or increase in severity, accompanied by pustules, ulcers, and skin infections, you should see a doctor soon.
To prevent illness, keep your hands, feet, and face warm in winter. Soak your hands and feet in warm water for a few minutes, then keep them warm for a few hours.
Limit the use of vasoconstrictors such as caffeine, and especially do not smoke because nicotine constricts blood vessels. Patients can use vasodilators such as nifedipine during the winter months, but pay attention to the side effects of nifedipine such as hot flashes and headaches.
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Image of a patient with frostbite on hands and feet coming to the Central Dermatology Hospital for examination. Photo: Provided by the hospital |
Some measures to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of the disease
- Gently keep the skin affected by chilblains warm. Do not massage, rub, or apply heat directly to the affected areas.
- Avoid exposure to cold temperatures at all times.
- Keep the affected area dry and warm but avoid sitting too close to heat sources to keep warm.
- Regularly clean the wound with antiseptic to avoid further infection.
