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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffChilblains are usually the result of an abnormal reaction of your body to cold. They tend to develop on skin that's exposed to cold and then warmed too quickly, such as by warming cold hands directly in front of a heater or fire. This rapid heating of cold skin can cause small blood vessels under the skin to expand more quickly than nearby larger blood vessels can handle, resulting in a "bottleneck" effect and the blood leaking into nearby tissues. Exactly why this occurs in certain people is unknown.
- Prakask S, et al. Idiopathic chilblains. The American Journal of Medicine. 2009;122:1152.
- Pierard GE, et al. Cold injuries. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2953356. Accessed July 22, 2010.
- Bielan B. What's your assessment? Dermatology Nursing. 2006;18:445.
- Patra AK, et al. Diltiazem vs. nifedipine in chilblains: A clinical trial. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venerology and Leprology. 2003;69:209.
- Souwer IH, et al. Vitamin D3 is not effective in the treatment of chronic chilblains. The International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2009;63:282.
- Sheps SG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 24, 2010.
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