Chilblains, boils and carbuncles are all characterized by swollen and painful areas of the skin that can have a major impact on the patient’s life. Chilblains occur in the form of red or purple swellings that appear on the skin as it warms up after a period of cold. These swellings mainly occur on the fingers, toes, hands, feet, ears and nose, but can sometimes also affect the ankles, calves and thighs. Boils and carbuncles, on the other hand, are caused by a bacterial infection in the hair follicles and can appear anywhere on the body. When several adjacent hair follicles become infected, we call it a carbuncle, the more serious form of a boil.
Chilblains
The condition winter toes or perniosis gets its name from the cold winter period that can be responsible for painful swellings on the feet that manifest when a body part is heated up after being cooled for several hours. When our skin is cooled, the blood vessels on the skin’s surface will constrict, reducing blood flow to the skin and causing the body to lose less heat. When the body warms up again, these blood vessels will dilate again, resulting in an increased blood supply. The extra blood supplied contains important nutrients for the skin and will also cool the skin. In some people, the skin will behave differently than normal when the blood vessels constrict in cold and expand in heat. This will cause the blood vessels to contract, causing painful swelling.
Chilblains mainly occur when the skin is heated very quickly after a period of cold, for example when you warm yourself by the warm fire after a cold snow walk. It is therefore not unlikely that most complaints occur during the cold months, in autumn and winter and in cold and damp environments. Children and the elderly also have an increased risk of developing chilblains and the problem is usually more common in women than in men. People who have circulatory problems or suffer from anorexia nervosa are also more susceptible to this condition.
Therapy
When you first experience symptoms of chilblains, it is best to consult your doctor who will prescribe a cream or lotion that will reduce the pain and itching. Try not to scratch the itchy area as you may damage the skin. Normally, the symptoms of chilblains should disappear completely after a week or two. If this is not the case or if the ailments return, it is best to visit your doctor as possible underlying health problems such as diabetes and Raynaud’s disease may be the cause of chilblains. It is also important to seek medical attention if an ulcer or infection develops in the affected area.
Prevention
Of course, it is better to prevent than to cure. To reduce the chance of developing chilblains, it is best to avoid exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations. If you do venture outside in freezing weather, it is best to wear thick gloves, socks, scarf and hat so that your body does not cool down too quickly. Wear appropriate footwear as the friction from ill-fitting shoes can also lead to chilblains.
In addition, a healthy lifestyle is also essential. Maintain a healthy diet and take sufficient exercise to ensure optimal circulation. Also avoid smoking as nicotine will constrict blood vessels.
Boils and carbuncles
A boil is usually caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria which is often present on our skin. When this bacteria enters the hair follicle it can lead to an infection of the hair follicle and nearby skin tissue. Initially, a boil manifests itself as a red, warm and hard swelling that can be very painful when touched. Gradually the boil will fill with pus, a thick fluid containing dead white blood cells, bacteria, proteins and detritus. This will soften the boil and create a white head. As the boil fills with this pus, it will also feel more painful. When several hair follicles become infected next to each other, we speak of a group of boils or carbuncle.
Such a boil or carbuncle can develop anywhere on the skin, but often occurs on the face, neck, armpits, thighs and buttocks. In principle, anyone can develop this condition, but people with a weaker immune system are extra susceptible to it.
Therapy
You can easily treat small boils yourself. Be careful not to squeeze or puncture such a pimple as the released fluid can spread the infection. Instead, gently rub a warm, damp washcloth over the affected skin for ten minutes several times a day. Make sure the boil is covered with moist heat throughout the process.
This heat will increase blood flow. This is very useful as the blood carries white blood cells and antibodies that will fight the bacteria. After soaking, the boil will eventually burst, releasing the pus and relieving the pain. After this, the healing process can start. Clean the wound regularly and cover it with a sterile bandage to avoid infections.
During treatment, it is important that you do not transfer the bacteria that caused the boil to other parts of the skin or to other people. Therefore, it is essential to wash hands thoroughly before and after treatment, especially as Staphylococcus aureus bacteria can also cause food poisoning. Washcloths and towels should therefore never be shared with other people and should be washed in very hot water after use before they can be used again.
In some cases it is advisable to seek medical attention for a boil or carbuncle. Ask your doctor for advice if the boil is quite large or if it has not disappeared after a few weeks. In addition, it is best to visit the doctor if the boil is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue or swollen lymph nodes or if the boil or carbuncle occurs in large numbers.
Conclusion
Chilblains, boils and carbuncles can feel very unpleasant, but are usually very harmless. However, in some cases it is a serious skin condition, which means that treatment must always be carried out carefully, regardless of the severity of the condition.
