Chillblains hell - help

[Lilliea]

Abyone who has ever had severe chillblains will know IANBU in posting here for traffic.

I have chillblains. I wear warm socks, warm shoes, try not to go from cold to hot too quickly. I still get them. I spend hours outdoors every day. I need some relief. It's moved from my toes to include my heels now. One of my heels has blistered. It's not that sore (apart from the blister), but the itch is so intense. It stops me sleeping just trying not to itch. Has anyone found anything that can relieve the itch once it's started?

Absolutely desperate!

M8ne aren't as bad as yours sound but the itching drives me insane. A pharmacist recommended snowfire stick and it's been great. Just rub it on when needed. Hope it helps
https://www.boots.com/snowfire-ointment-stick-18g-10342390?srsltid=AfmBOooqFhTFV93FfaGvUDQG4bR1xT2Gqq3E1sL8CshGiWlr_xsYlUw1

I use calamine lotion when mine get bad. I paint it onto my toes before bed. It's hard to apply to fingers though. I always wear two pairs of socks when it's cold.

We used zambuk when we were kids and my dad asked me to get some for him a few years ago. It still exists on Amazon. I can't remember how effective it was but it wouldn't do any harm.

What are you doing where you spend hours outdoors each day? Might help me answer. Is it farming?! Or something that you could alter or change such as running.

Snow fire stick in the morning and lunchtime. Balmousa lotion at night.
Stick on toe warmers in your boots.

This regime works for me - dropping the snowfire to every 3 days when this crop has passed. Forget any of it, back they come. Sympathies op, bane of my life too!

80 mins on school runs, 45 mins on lunch break walking, an hour in playground, lots of 10-30 mins at a time at work, 3 hours Saturdays and Sundays doing son's hobby, then usually out and about.

I really suffer with these too. The only thing that helps me is a herbal remedy called pulsatilla. They're tablets and usually available from Holland and Barrett

I used to suffer so badly as a child with them, the itching drove me potty. Hope you can get some relief. Could you take an antihistamine to help with the itching?

This is so useful, my daughter gets them so badly, and it's not anything I've ever experienced myself. I will look for that snowfire stuff, thank you

I'm pleased to hear that Snowfire is still recommended, the smell takes me back to my childhood!! Apparently children in the early/ mid 80's didn't get chilblains any more according to the GP when my mum mentioned it to him, he was wrong and I have the misshapen toes to prove it. I once had a nurse tell me that she'd suffered terribly but after her first pregnancy she never had them again, 3 children later and mine are worse than ever. The best thing I've found for keeping my feet warm is bare feet in Ugg boots or wearing hand knitted socks.

I've learnt to live with my feet and only really notice if they get really bad but this winter my hands have started to join in and that's a whole new level of he'll!

I work outside and I sympathise with the sore hands and feet. Have you tried heated socks? They've made a huge difference for me. Mine stay warm on a low setting for around 8 hours but you can switch them on and off as you go from indoors to outdoors. My feet are so much better.

Sorry Op no advice on a remedy. Just to say I used to get them like you every year and can still remember the agony and the itching
Alli can say is that I must have grown out of them as not had them for decades now if that is any consolation
Do you live in the north ? I'm now wondering if I stopped getting them when I moved from Manchester to the south west

That's really interesting as I never had them until I moved to Manchester! OP I feel for you, mine are agony too. Last year it made my eczema flare up too so I'm determined not to let that happen this year! This helps relieve the itch a bit, I smother my feet then put really thick cotton socks on .

i used to get them until an old lady gave me some advice!
Buy your shoes half a size bigger, nice thick socks slightly loose. That allows the air to form an insulating layer.
Honestly I haven’t had a chill blain since!
Real sheepskin (Ugg type) boots are good for the same reason, but again keep them slightly loose

Stop walking the school runs and on lunch breaks etc when its cold. Get a walking pad and stay home. Surely you'd start cutting back on the outdoor stuff you can control first.

I agree with Ugg style boots and decent socks.
I wear Bridgedale Summit socks. They're not cheap but they last for years. My work trainers have fleecy liners in them.

This cream helped me
www.justmylook.com/products/eveline-cosmetics-revitalum-25-urea-intensely-regenerating-cream-compress-75ml

I really need to get outside or I can't function. It's hard to explain. But I really can't stay indoors all day in winter. I get quite depressed.

Have you got any cortisone cream in? It's the only thing that takes the itch out of mine. If they are blistering then you might get some sympathy from your gp - there are some prescription only medications to try and help prevent them.

I'm going to head to chemist tomorrow and see if one of the otc suggestions help. I might actually have some cortisone!

You don't need to stay in all day but you're clearly outdoors too much and your body is literally telling you to limit it.

My friend knits her own socks in natural fibres, loosish, with loose fitting ugg boots. She said being loose causes an insulation layer.

My daughter gets them and we use over the counter steroid cream twice a day to relieve the itching. Once the itching has stopped just work on keeping her feet warm.

The walk to school is 20 mins. It takes longer in the car and I have to pay to park in a multi storey car park. We get 15 mins free but it always takes longer than this to get DS into school. He has adhd and asd and going to school on his bike is part of his routine, come rain or shine. I can't cut down his weekend hobby or walking outdoors at work. I could cut down my lunchbreak walk/run but would be far, far less productive at work. I get SAD and depression and being outside is like medicine. The chillblains are bad, but the depression is worse. Being outdoors makes so much difference.

Witchhazel can also help with the itching.