Preventing chilblains or advice on making more comfortable

[Madmog]

Every winter without fail I end up with a number of chilblains on my fingers and already have 3 breaking out. Has anyone got any advice/tips or know any products that help. They are normally over 1cm wide, dry and sometimes crack so anxious to reduce them this year. I make sure I keep my hands warm with gloves or in pockets, but still get them. Am also careful not to put them in warm water if they are cold.

I really struggle with chilblains too and have found nothing that works other than a medication that landed me in hospital at the beginning of the year! (nifedepine - might be good for you!)

I've already got a few breaking out so sympathcize. Sounds silly, but this winter I've bought some fingerless gloves for wearing around the house - I often think our plates and glasses feel really cold on my hands as kitchen is on north elevation with no heating. When they are dry I sometimes put vaseline on them, not sure it really helps though!

I use an "old fashioned" product called SnoFire on mine. I suffer badly with them on my feet (despite trying to maintain constant temp with socks, slippers etc).
Moisturising helps but I often find once they arrive I am suffering until Spring. Any handy hints welcome!

snofire smells nice, but I've not found it helps.
Sadly fingerless gloves seem to make me worse too!
I do use those little pocket warmers, which dont prevent them but make my hands more comfy. I tried them in my boots, but they were too lumpy! (I feel a bit like goldilocks on this thread!)

My dear old Dad suffers from chilblains on his feet, and hes a farmer so his feet are always cold and damp. My mum got him some Napier's Capsican and Ginger warming cream to try, and it seems to working so far this season. He really likes it, he finds it helps with his achey joints too.

www.napiers.netcapsicum-ginger-skin-cream.html
Dad also puts epsom salts in the bath to ease his feet.

Epsom salts are a nice idea, cheap too. I have some ginger massage oil. Hadn't thought about it for my feet.

Thanks for your replies. Will look into getting the cream and some epsom salts. Does anyone know where I can buy Snofire if I give that ago?

Bizaarely, I have a work colleague who used to suffer from chilblains and someone recommended to her that she eat butter instead of margerine. When she did so, she stopped getting chilblains and she swears by it. Worth a try as a cheap cure?

I only eat butter cant stand marg.

I got my snofire from online but i cant remember where. Good luck!

Sorry for hijack - but OhYoubadkitten, why did you end up in hospital with the nifedipine?

I ask as i have Raynauds in my fingers, and my rheumy keeps pushing the stuff.. have so far resisted, as one of the side effects is that it lowers blood pressure, and i already have very low blood pressure!

It made my heart rate run at 200bpm. I'd taken it before for my raynauds and it had put it a bit high, but not that ridiculous! Turns out I've got an underlying condition that it really exacerbated.
Take it very cautiously if you do try it.

Oo thank you, that sounds scarey!

I really really haven't wanted to go near it tbh - definitely don't want to now. At least i presently know what i'm dealing with, and not too happy about fiddling around with things, i always find a lot of the stuff they push have side effects for me, iyswim.

I had heard Ginger was great for circulation, might try and find it in oil form as i can't eat it.
Snofire didn't work for me, black pepper oil has helped a bit.. You know in the olden days they used to pee on their feet for chilblains? something about the uric acid i think

I have tried pee too! I guess Ive got a bit desperate! I know what you mean about side effects with drugs. I do tend to try what has been suggested but cautiously! You might find its just the drug for you, but I'm not sure if you already have low blood pressure!
I'm going back to the rheumy (when the referral gets through) Ill report back if he has any other suggestions!

The pee didn't work then
My rheumy is hopeless, just umms and arrs a lot, and takes a LOT of bloods.. so if yours comes up with anything i'd be interested!

Have you tried the silver gloves on the Raynauds Association website? The OT said some of her clients reckon they're good, might give them a go when i've enough money..

I've not tried them. I've looked at them but it gets to the point where you really don't feel like throwing money at yet another thing that doesn't work doesn't it!

Couldn't agree more.. i do have some silk gloves that seem to work well as liners, so will stick with those for now.

I'm just dreading when my fingers start swelling and going blue, to me they look like zombie hands, gone are my days of hand modelling .. Mind you, i escaped the worst last year, so must be doing something right

Every winter I would get annoying chillblain....until by luck I found out that if I stop consuming dairy and gluten products I would not get the chillblains during that winter....no matter how cold it was;) Don't ask me why it works....I just know that it does for me! Maybe give it a shot and have a chillblain-free winter!!!!