Quantity is Quality Blog

Chilblains are a problem due to the control of the circulation in fingers and toes and occasionally the nose and ears. It most commonly affects the toe. While the cold does not cause them, it is the control of the circulation when a previously cold body part is warmed up too rapidly and the circulation does not respond quick enough to this warming. As a result there is some swelling and inflammation that is initially very itchy then becomes swollen. Later the skin may break down and infection can get in. The best way to prevent chilblains is to make sure that the feet never get cold.