Why do we get chilblains?

THAT'S THE WHY:THIS WINTER was one of the coldest on record in Ireland. And when you mix cold (non-freezing) with damp, you get conditions that are ripe for bringing out chilblains in susceptible people.

Often painful and irritating, chilblains tend to crop up on the extremities, such as toes and fingers. If those body parts are cold, the small blood vessels in the skin constrict to reduce heat loss.

But if these chilly sections are then exposed to heat suddenly – perhaps you put your hands in front of a fire or heater – blood vessels near the surface become damaged and blood leaks out into surrounding tissue.

Studies of chilblains suggest that cells of your immune system rush in, and the area becomes inflamed, swollen, red and sometimes itchy and burning. The sore areas usually clear up, but complications can include infection.

Just why some of us are more likely to get chilblains than others is a matter of debate, but children and older people tend to be more susceptible, and having a low body mass index appears to be a risk factor, as does being female.

And while there may well be physiological reasons to explain why, a 2009 paper in the American Journal of Medicine also made an interesting comment on the gender imbalance: “Although chilblains occur in all ages and sexes, its female predominance might reflect choices of footgear.”

As ever, prevention is better than cure, so wrap up. “The best approach to chilblains is to avoid developing them by limiting your exposure to cold, dressing warmly and covering exposed skin,” states the Mayo Clinic website.