fbpx

Chilblains

Skin Conditions

Chilblains, also known as pernio and perniosis, are skin lesions that appear in response to exposure to cold temperatures.  They begin as a red and itchy bump, typically on the fingers, toes, nose, or ears and resolve within 1-2 weeks or sooner if cold temperatures are avoided.  In some cases these initial lesions may develop into blisters, scabs, or even ulcers.

Chilblains develop when cold temperatures cause capillaries to constrict in the peripheral extremities, but it is unknown why some individuals are more susceptible to developing them than others.  Some predisposing factors include family members that develop chilblains, other peripheral vascular diseases brought on by smoking, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia, abnormally low body weight, hormonal changes, certain bone marrow diseases, and connective tissue disorders such as lupus.

This condition is most common in the very young and very elderly.  In infants, it tends to resolve with age, while it tends to become a chronic condition in elderly persons. Most cases of chilblains will resolve on their own without complications and do not require medical intervention. In severe cases, a topical steroid may be prescribed to reduce the itch and vasodilators such as nifedipine and diltiazem may be used to improve circulation.

The most important measure to take if you are prone to chilblains, however, is prevention.  Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures, and if you do get cold, do not aggressively re-warm with hot water as this can exacerbate the lesions.  Contact your dermatologist if the lesions blister or turn into ulcers as this can lead to infection and permanent damage, or if they persist through warmer seasons as this may indicate a different disease process.

Schedule a Consultation with Anne Marie Johnson, ConsultantChoose a visit type to schedule a consultation with Anne Marie Johnson, Consultant

Anne Marie Johnson, Consultant
Anne Marie Johnson, Consultant

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule Appointment with Xarlyn Rantung, NP-CChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Xarlyn Rantung, NP-C

Xarlyn Rantung, NP-C
Xarlyn Rantung, NP-C

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule Appointment with Jessica Arnold, NP-CChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Jessica Arnold, NP-C

Jessica Arnold, NP-C
Jessica Arnold, NP-C

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule Appointment with Joshua Holcombe PA-CChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Joshua Holcombe PA-C

Joshua Holocombe PA-C
Joshua Holocombe PA-C

Please choose the type of appointment:

Schedule Appointment with Kara Crane NP-CChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Kara Crane, NP-C

Kara Crane, NP-C
Kara Crane, NP-C

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule AppointmentChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Christian Jordan, M.D., PH.D.

Christian S. Jordan, MD, PH.D
Christian S. Jordan, MD, PH.D

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule AppointmentChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Elaine Woo-Gallagher, NP-C

Elaine Woo-Gallagher, NP-C

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule AppointmentChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Dr. Anand Bhupathy

Anand Bhupathy, MD

Please choose the type of appointment:

Schedule AppointmentChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Chloe Rayos, NP-C

Chloe Rayos, NP-C

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule an Appointment with Kelly Akins, EstheticianChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Kelly Akins, Esthetician

Kelly Akins, Esthetician
Kelly Akins, Esthetician

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule an Appointment with Adriana Ortiz, EstheticianChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Adriana Ortiz, Esthetician

Adriana Ortiz, Esthetician
Adriana Ortiz, Esthetician

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule an Appointment with Lorena Zendejas, EstheticianChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Lorena Zendejas, Esthetician

Lorena Zendejas, Esthetician
Lorena Zendejas, Esthetician

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Schedule AppointmentChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Todd McCoy, NPC

Todd McCoy, NP-BC

Please choose the type of appointment:

Schedule AppointmentChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment with Mimi Vutran

Phi-Yen “Mimi” VuTran, PA-C
Phi-Yen “Mimi” VuTran, PA-C

Please choose the type of appointment:

 

Request a Hair Transplant Consultation Day AppointmentFill in your info and we will contact you to schedule your consultation.


Consultation Request for March SpecialsFill in your info and our experienced staff will call you to set up a consultation.


Appointment Request for Our La Quinta Lasers SpecialsFill in your info and our experienced staff will call you to set up an appointment.

Request a Lipo 360 Flash Sale ConsultationFill in your info and tap Send! Our experienced team will call you to schedule.


Schedule an Appointment in Palm SpringsChoose a visit type to schedule an appointment in Palm Springs
 

Request a CoolSculpting Consultation Day AppointmentFill in your info and we will contact you to schedule your consultation.

Request a Patient Portal LinkFill in your info and tap send. We will send you a link to the patient portal via email and text message.


Consultation RequestFill in your info and our experienced staff will call you to set up a consultation.


Sign UpTo receive our up to date information and deals


[gravityform id="8" name="Contact Form" description="false"]

Appointment RequestFill in your info and our experienced staff will call you to set up an appointment.


Career Center Contact FormFill in your info and our team will contact you.

 

Privacy Preferences
When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in form of cookies. Here you can change your privacy preferences. Please note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we offer.