From the Research
The best evidence-based management for chilblains involves a combination of preventive measures and treatments, with a focus on keeping extremities warm and dry, and avoiding exposure to cold temperatures, as supported by the most recent study 1.
Key Management Strategies
- Prevention is the cornerstone of management, including:
- Keeping extremities warm and dry
- Avoiding exposure to cold temperatures
- Wearing appropriate insulated footwear and gloves
- Stopping smoking to improve circulation
- For symptomatic relief:
- Topical corticosteroids such as betamethasone 0.1% cream applied twice daily for 1-2 weeks can reduce inflammation and itching
- Topical nitroglycerin 2% ointment applied to affected areas once or twice daily may help by improving blood flow, though headaches can be a side effect
Pharmacological Interventions
- Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, at doses of 20-60 mg daily can be effective for severe or recurrent cases by promoting vasodilation, although its effectiveness is not confirmed by all studies 2, 1
- For painful lesions, analgesics like acetaminophen or NSAIDs may provide relief
- In persistent cases, pentoxifylline (400 mg three times daily) might improve microcirculation