Health and Fitness

What is the cause of chilblains on the feet?

Chilblains are what is known as a vasospasm problem of the foot, even though they can on occasion occur at other parts of the body. Vasospasm means that there is a spasm in the small muscles which encompass the little arteries. They happen if the toes becomes cold and the small blood vessels shut down to conserve heat, that is pretty normal. As the toes gets warm, these arteries generally open up. With a chilblain because of the vasospasm these little blood vessels continue being closed for a longer time. On account of this, metabolites and also waste materials accumulate in the epidermis leading to an inflammation response which is the chilblain. The arteries next abruptly open up producing even more irritation along with injury. At this time they can be red and they are often itchy. At a later time while waste products build up and they become more long-term, chilblains take on a dark bluish look. As the mechanism by which they come about is understood, precisely what brings about the problem is unclear. Chilblains are definitely more frequent in women hinting there may be hormonal influences about how the arteries responds to variations in the temperatures.

The most suitable strategy for chilblains is always to not get them from the start. Prevention is best done by not letting your feet to become cold. Keep the feet in effective hosiery and footwear and steer clear of venturing out in the cold whenever possible. When the foot does get cold, then it is essential that the feet be permitted to warm up gradually in order that the blood circulation to correctly adapt to the alterations in temperature. Among the worst things you can do after the feet are cold is to position the foot straight away in front of a source of heat. Another way to stop chilblains, mainly if the individual who usually gets chilblains significantly, is to try using medication which help keep the blood vessels open. Although this will apparently work quite nicely, it can include side affects as it has an effect on all arteries, not just those in the feet.

Once a chilblain may occur, then the feet really need to be protected from further harm and deteriorating into an open lesion. The measures stated previously to prevent them still need to be done or the problem may become a chronic problem. There are various creams that can be used to be rubbed in to help stimulate the circulation and encourage healing. There is certainly some dispute around just what is definitely the more effective treatments to make use of, as there is not a lot of evidence encouraging the use of one above another. Despite chilblains being a somewhat common problem, it is unusual just how little research has been carried out on chilblains.