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Chilblains: how to ease them, and how to stop them coming back

Reviewed by Dr Sumbal Safi Ullah✓, MBBS

By 5 min readPublisher: Saadat Rafiq

Last updated: 30 October 2026References

Set preferred
Illustration of a woman on a sofa, one foot in a thick wool sock, holding her bare foot and gently looking at a small red, swollen patch on her little toeIllustration
On this page 11 sections

In short

Chilblains are itchy, sore patches on fingers or toes after cold or damp. Dry and warm your skin slowly, never on a radiator, don't scratch, and keep warm. Most go in 2 to 3 weeks. See a GP if they don't, or if you have diabetes.

Jump to the steps

At a glance

Where
Mostly fingers and toes; also face, ears, legs (NHS, AOK)
When
A few hours after being in the cold (NHS)
Warm up
Dry the skin and warm it slowly (NHS)
Never
Radiator, hot water, scratching (NHS)
See a GP
Not better in 2 to 3 weeks, pus, fever, diabetes (NHS)
Checked
October 2026

Chilblains are small, itchy patches that appear a few hours after you've been in the cold, mostly on fingers and toes (NHS). They usually clear up on their own (NHS), and warming up slowly and dressing warmly can help them heal and stop them coming back (NHS, AOK). UK, German and US advice is side by side in the table near the end.

See a GP if your skin isn't better after 2 to 3 weeks, pus comes out, you have a very high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery, you keep getting chilblains, or you have diabetes (NHS).

What do you want to do?

Check what it is

Itchy, red or purple, after cold. Start at Check for chilblains.

Ease them now

Dry, warm slowly, don't scratch. Go to Ease them.

Stop them coming back

Warm layers, loose shoes, dry feet. Go to Prevent them.

Check for chilblains

  1. Look for itchy, burning patches on fingers or toes a few hours after the cold.

    Illustration of a close-up of a foot with two toes showing small swollen red-purple patches
    Illustration

    Chilblains usually appear a few hours after you've been in the cold, mostly on fingers and toes, sometimes on the face and legs. The skin can feel itchy or like it's burning (NHS). AOK adds ear lobes, and describes bluish-red, cushion-like swellings.

  2. Know that the colour can be harder to see on darker skin.

    Illustration of two hands side by side, one with lighter skin and one with brown skin, each with a small swollen patch on one finger
    Illustration

    Fingers or toes may turn red or purple, but redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin (NHS). Swelling, itching and burning are still signs.

Ease them

  1. Come in, dry your skin, and let it warm up slowly.

    Illustration of a woman sitting indoors gently patting her bare feet dry with a soft towel
    Illustration

    If you've been out in the cold, dry your skin and warm it slowly (NHS).

  2. Keep your feet and hands away from radiators and hot water.

    Illustration of bare feet resting on a hot radiator and hands under a steaming tap, both crossed out
    Illustration

    The NHS says not to warm your hands or feet on a radiator or under hot water. Chilblains happen when the skin's surface vessels widen as you warm up while the deeper ones stay narrow (NHS). Cleveland Clinic allows short soaks in warm, not hot, water.

  3. Don't scratch. Ask a pharmacist for a soothing lotion.

    Illustration in two panels: fingernails scratching a toe crossed out, then a woman gently smoothing lotion onto her toes
    Illustration

    Don't scratch or pick at the skin (NHS); scratching damages it further (AOK). A pharmacist can suggest a lotion to soothe the itching, and tell you if you need a GP (NHS). AOK says rubbing in wool wax (lanolin) can help keep warmth in, and Cleveland Clinic suggests an unscented moisturiser.

  4. Keep the sore spots covered and warm.

    Illustration of a woman pulling thick wool socks over her feet while sitting on the edge of the bed
    Illustration

    Protect the skin from cold with breathable wool or cotton socks, gloves, a hat or a scarf (AOK). Keep the whole body warm too (AOK, Cleveland Clinic).

Prevent them

  1. Dress in warm, waterproof layers when it's cold or damp.

    Illustration of a woman at the front door putting on a waterproof coat over layers, with a hat, gloves and boots
    Illustration

    Avoid being out in cold or damp weather where you can. If you go out, wear warm, waterproof clothing, gloves and thick socks (NHS). Several layers keep you warmer than one thick one, and clothes should stay dry (AOK). A hat helps keep your whole body warm (Cleveland Clinic).

  2. Choose shoes that don't pinch your toes.

    Illustration in two panels: a foot squeezed into a narrow tight boot crossed out, and a foot in a roomy warm boot with a green tick
    Illustration

    Shoes shouldn't be too tight, because that restricts blood flow, and they shouldn't rub (AOK). Tight shoes, gloves or clothes in cold, damp weather raise the risk (Cleveland Clinic).

  3. Keep moving, especially if you sit a lot.

    Illustration of a woman getting up from her desk and walking around the room while talking on the phone
    Illustration

    Light movement improves circulation. If you sit for long periods, get up now and then, for example walking about while on the phone (AOK).

  4. Dry your feet well after a shower or bath.

    Illustration of a woman on the edge of the bath drying carefully between her toes with a towel
    Illustration

    Always dry your feet thoroughly after showering or bathing, because damp skin can make chilblains more likely in people who are prone to them (AOK).

  5. Cut down on caffeine, don't smoke, and check before taking a decongestant.

    Illustration of a cup of coffee, a cigarette and a plain box of nasal decongestant crossed out, next to a mug of herbal tea with a green tick
    Illustration

    The NHS says don't smoke, have caffeine drinks or take medicine for a blocked nose (decongestants), as these can affect blood flow in your fingers and toes. AOK also says to avoid caffeine and nicotine where you can.

See a GP

  1. Get help if they haven't gone in 2 to 3 weeks, or look infected.

    Illustration of a doctor gently examining a woman's toes in a calm consulting room
    Illustration

    See a GP if your skin isn't better after 2 to 3 weeks, there's pus, you have a very high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery, or you keep getting chilblains (NHS). AOK adds open sores, and Cleveland Clinic adds fever or chills.

  2. If you have diabetes, get chilblains on your feet checked.

    Illustration of an older man sitting on a chair holding a small mirror to look at the sole of his foot
    Illustration

    Foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes (NHS). AOK explains that high blood sugar can dull feeling in the feet, so sores are noticed late and heal slowly. Cleveland Clinic says see a provider right away.

What each country says

UKGermanyUS
How long2 to 3 weeks (NHS)About 3 weeks (AOK)1 to 3 weeks (Cleveland Clinic)
Warming upSlowly; no radiator or hot water (NHS)Keep the whole body warm (AOK)Short soaks in warm water only (Cleveland Clinic)
Skin careLotion for itching from a pharmacist (NHS)Wool wax (lanolin) if you like; pharmacy products for itching (AOK)Unscented moisturiser (Cleveland Clinic)
AvoidSmoking, caffeine, decongestants (NHS)Caffeine, nicotine, tight shoes (AOK)Smoking, tight shoes and gloves (Cleveland Clinic)
See a doctorAfter 2 to 3 weeks, pus, fever, diabetes, keeps coming back (NHS)After 2 to 3 weeks, sores, pus, fever, diabetes (AOK)After 3 weeks, diabetes, fever or chills, pus (Cleveland Clinic)

How to tell they're healing

  • The itching and burning ease as you keep warm and dry (NHS).
  • The patches fade within 2 to 3 weeks (NHS).
  • New ones stop appearing once you dress warmly and avoid sudden heat (NHS, AOK).

If something isn't right

What happensWhat it meansWhat to do
Still there after 3 weeksIt may need treatmentSee a GP (NHS)
Pus, or an open soreIt may be infectedSee a GP (NHS, AOK)
Fever, or you feel shiveryIt may be more than chilblainsSee a GP (NHS)
They come back every winterSome people are more proneSee a GP (NHS); keep warm and dry (AOK)
You have diabetesFoot problems can be more seriousGet your feet checked (NHS)

Questions readers ask

How long do chilblains last?

Usually 2 to 3 weeks (NHS). AOK says most go within about 3 weeks, and Cleveland Clinic says 1 to 3 weeks.

Are chilblains the same as frostbite?

No. Chilblains come from cold or damp air that isn't freezing (Cleveland Clinic), and AOK says they are a circulation problem rather than frozen skin. Frostbite is a different condition (Cleveland Clinic).

Why shouldn't I warm my feet on a radiator?

Chilblains happen when the deep blood vessels stay narrow but the ones near the surface widen as you warm up (NHS). The NHS says warm your skin slowly and not to use a radiator or hot water.

Can I put cream on chilblains?

A pharmacist can suggest a lotion to soothe the itching (NHS). Cleveland Clinic suggests an unscented moisturiser, and AOK says you can rub in wool wax (lanolin) to help keep the warmth in.

Why do I keep getting them?

Some people are more prone, for example with low body weight, smoking, or a family tendency (AOK, Cleveland Clinic). See a GP if you keep getting chilblains (NHS).

I have diabetes. What should I do?

Get chilblains on your feet checked by a GP or doctor. Foot problems can be more serious with diabetes (NHS, AOK, Cleveland Clinic).

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