It's the start of winter here and I am already plagued with chilblains. I am even waking in the night scratching them... and they're sore :(

What do you guys do to stop them itching and driving you mad?

Please help me.... I cant quilt when I'm scratching all the time

Thanks, Suzi

Well, I cant help cuz I have no idea what that is, but I hope someone here does and can help get you relief.

same here ,never heard of it.
If it is winter where you are that means you are in Australia, so do you know the americanized version of it :-D :-D :-D

Have you tried sleeping with a rice or corn bag? It is a bag usually made of flannel, filled with something, we prefer field corn, that is put in the microwave and heated then slip it in bed with you and your feet are toasty for hours and hours.

I'm sure someone else can explain it better than me.

I had to check out wiki to see exactly what chilblains were.

Sorry I can't help either. I know to try and avoid coming in from the cold and heating up too quick and that you should keep your feet warm at all times. I think there are creams, lotions and potions out there like corticosteroids. Maybe a trip to the docs if they are very severe? I know people who had them and they are extremely painful and itchy so I hope you find something for them soon though :)

I've only heard of them on old t.v. shows. not sure what they are exactly..... arthritis??

LL Bean Toe Warmers. www.lllbean.com

What about a hot foot soak for 15-20 min before going to bed.

I had to look it up: An inflammation followed by itchy irritation on the hands, feet, or ears, resulting from exposure to moist cold.

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What she said, plus I would add a lot of Epsom Salts. They will add a lot of magnesium to your body through the skin. It's been used for many, many years this way.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chilblains/DS01091
this give the definition of what chilbains are and what the typical treatments are.

My prayers are with you for relief and effective treatment. Could accupressure/accupuncture possibly help with the circulation problems?

You really need to keep your feet warm and dry and make sure your toes are not squashed into shoes during the day. Epsom salts baths really will help, as will foot exercises (keep your socks on) use a tennis ball or similar and roll it around with your feet (if you work you can do this at your desk). Check with your pharmacist about creams that may help. Also, please go and see your GP....feet are precious (they hold us up all our lives), poor circulation can be an indicator of other problems. Chilblains can get ulcerated and that can be serious. If you are a diabetic or borderline diabetic get yourself to the Doctor pronto.

Enough of the lecture....I do feel for you (I have a nasty form of arthritis which often affects my feet and toes), so I know how miserable it can be:) Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks guys, I will get some Epsom salts tomorrow.

The chilblains are actually on my fingers... we moved in a hurry after the feb earthquake wrecked our house and I can't find a lot of things, including my gloves. I'm not too keen to go shopping in a mall after our 6.3 mag aftershock on Monday, but think I have to.

Wish me luck :)

Are you in NZ if you are in earthquake? Hope everything is OK for you to not have to many rapid temperature changes. If you keep your affected areas at a comfortable heat, not to hot or cold it should help. Get yourself checked out for diabetes as well as poor circulation can make you more prone to chillblains and poor circulation is a symptom of diabetes.Hope you have some success.

My husband is affected in his hands. At night, a glass of Sherry helps with the diffusion. Other times he takes niacin. It's OTC here. One of my students (14 yr. old) Jumps rope to get the circulation going, but she has Raynauds's syndrome. Same treatment - peripheral vascular circulation.

My son cycles so with the win chill and the winter cold he gets them fairly often. We found that either caldryl or calamine (sp) work almost at once for relief. Of course this is after the damage has been done, prevention would be best of course, but can't keep him off the bike in the winter.

Good wool socks help tremendously. I'm sure you can find a knitter who can make them for you. The key is to select a sock wool that is not scratchy. It's a good investment.

Try to find some lightweight wool socks to put in your dress boots when you are out and about (and wearing hose.)

I don't know what that is but we use Sarna for itching. There is one for sensitive skin (which doesn't have an odor) and one for regular (which has a slight medicinal odor). Over the counter at the drug store.

You might try red “Tiger Balm” from a health store it has red chili in it and heats up, wear socks. The yellow will not stain.

From the Mayo clinic website:
Chilblains
Chilblains are the painful inflammation of small blood vessels in your skin that occur in response to sudden warming from cold temperatures. Also known as pernio, chilblains can cause itching, red patches, swelling and blistering on extremities, such as on your toes, fingers, ears and nose.

Chilblains usually respond well to treatment and clear up within one to three weeks, though they may recur seasonally for years. Treatments typically consist of lotions and medication. While Chilblains don't usually result in permanent injury, they can lead to infection, which may cause severe damage if left untreated.

The best approach to chilblains is to avoid developing them by limiting your exposure to cold, dressing warmly and covering exposed skin.

Sounds crazy but my husband respond ed well to rubbing on capsasin in cream form. it stings at first then takes away the itch and pain. Best of luck

First - I was told that epsom salts should not be used by diabetics. Never did find out why. Now - on to more reading of the Quilting Board.
D

Try this website. Lots of good info. http://www.epodiatry.com/chilblains.htm

I have had chilblains, the best thing is to wear is sheepskin slippers, no socks just the sheepskin next to your skin, natural fibres cotton etc are also good, do not wear synthetiic fibres as they do not allow your skin to breath, pantyhose really set chilblains going. I just invest in good quality sheepskin lined slippers with hard soles (so as I can wear the outside) no itches. This was told to me by a nurse.

Some old wives tale says to rub them with a raw onion, I prefer the slippers.

I second earthwalker's opinion. I don't know if Lanocain is available where you are but it's a toptical over the counter cream that's great for stopping the itch. You are in my prayers for a speedy recovery and end to exposed skin in the cold.

I second earthwalker's opinion. I don't know if Lanocain is available where you are but it's a toptical over the counter cream that's great for stopping the itch. You are in my prayers for a speedy recovery and end to exposed skin in the cold.

Have you tried Vick's rub? Works on my sore feet.

When we were kids, mom would put socks on our hands if we didn't have mittens. (And she was a firm believer in Epsom salts soaking for whatever ails you.)
Hope the earth stands still for a while for you. We had a little one second shaker here last year and it made me think.....what a scarey experience.

Well, I guess one cure would be to move...

I've been putting some hand salve on them today which has comfy root, Rosemary oil and eucalyptus oil in it and it is helping with the itching and pain.

And mzmama I would love to move LOL...but can't afford to with a wrecked house we can't sell. Hopefully we will get a good insurance payout once things are sorted.

I always wear good wool socks and sheepskin slippers so never get them on my feet, and usually wear possum wool gloves, but alas have lost them :( so am going out shopping soon.

Thank you everyone for your ideas and kind thoughts. Happy quilting everyone

I remember having chilblains in my feet during winter when I was a teenager and had to walk quite a way to the catch the bus to school. I did suffer and remember the pain was like a throbbing irritation that just wouldn't go away.

My Mum or Nan said I should try an old remedy which seemed to work, I know it didn't do any harm - which was to soak my feet in urine. It sounds awful I know but I was so desperate to get some relief ... oh, and of course it was my own!!

Don't know if you are game enough to do this with your hands though!

It isn't as far out as it sounds. The original formula for many effective skin lotions was elephant urine. Read the label of Eurcerin for instance. it contains urea. This traps moisture in the skin. Not many people have access to elephants, so I believe they now have a chemically formulated urea. This is added to other known soothing products, (aloe, oatmeal, lickerish, grape seed or evening primrose oil) to relieve itching and irritation, and tighten skin cell barriers. Some products contain a higher percent of urea, and fragrances are frequently added. In my medical experience, Eucerin, available over the counter, is one of the best products for itching, irritated skin, including eczema.

If you are turned off with the idea, mix your first morning voiding with oatmeal and something like baby oil to make your own lotion. Give it a chance to soak in before washing. Repeat several times a day, but make a fresh batch each day.

try walking barefoot in the snow ! dont know why but it did cure chillblains for me years ago and have not had any since.

You learn something new every day. Hope you find relief.

OUCH!!
Here in Australia, you can buy cream over the counter at the Chemist.
I havnt had them for years now, but I used to hang my feet
out of the bed, so that they were cold, and didnt itch.
A doctor once told me to pee on my feet, but I didnt go for that one.
Regards Marlene.
Bendigo Victoria.