Chilblains

[Rosie29]

I'm in my 80s and have recurrance of chilblains which I last had as a teenager. Any magic cures please ?

[Sqad]

Not magic Rosie ;-) and as you have suffered for so long, you may well have tried all the recommended treatments.

Try Hydrocortisone 1% cream and smear it over the "itchy" areas twice daily.

[Rosie29]

Thanks Sqad - I've not had them since a teenager - I had them last as a teenager - some time ago!. Sorry for confusion.

[Sqad]

No problem Rosie........try the cream.

[ethandron]

Rosie, my other half suffers with these every winter. He's found that the action of rubbing them is the best relief, without any kind of lotion. It increases the circulation and helps dispurse the fluid build up.
If you look at the patient.co.uk site it says that steroid creams are nolonger recommended for the treatment of chilblains.

[jno]

my doctor (who used to practise in the Scottish highlands and knew something about cold) told me aloe vera. They went away but of course I have no idea if that was what cured them.

[ethandron]

It's the rubbing action which does the trick, rather than the actual stuff you use. Creams, ointments, lotions, etc., don't actually do anything except encourage you to rub the affected toes.

[Buenchico]

The NHS website suggests that there's not a great deal you can do in the way of treatment:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/chilblains/Pages/Treatment.aspx

[mallyh]

my dear old gran told me to wee in a pot then put my feet in but been a youngster then i thought this disgusting so never found out if it worked

[jno]

sure sounds like an old country remedy, mallyh

[bednobs]

i have never even heard of chillblains!

[jno]

"Chilblains can occur at any age, but are more common in children and elderly people. The condition also affects women more than men"

You just wait, bednobs.

[mallyh]

yes jno my gran came from a small village .

[bednobs]

what is it?

[mallyh]

little spotty lumps that itch like mad

[Mamyalynne]

Mally, My Gran's treatment advice was the same.

[mallyh]

did you try it Mamyalynne

[atalanta]

Snowfire ointment. But you will have to find an old-fashioned chemists, since it is a very old-fashioned remedy..
However, this suggests that you may have a mild form of Raynaud's disease, which has worsened with age. If so, there is a treatment the doctor can prescribe which will more or less sort out the underlying problem - but only while you take them. It is not a cure.

[jno]

this presents a fine image of our rustic ancestors weeing on each other's chilblains. But presumably, for the remedy still to be spoken of, it must have worked.

[society]

About Snowfire ointment - http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/snowfire.htm

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[bunkmoreland]

I've suffered really badly with chilblains since the 80s,cos of generally bad circulation.My doctor prescribed Adelat Retard tablets over 10 years ago.They work by speeding up the circulation. I gave this info to a local butcher who was suffering through so much time spent with very cold conditions. It worked for him too,and he said he couldnt thank me enough for pointing him in that direction!