Chilblains
Overview
Chilblains are small, itchy patches that can appear on your skin after you've been in the cold. They usually clear up on their own. You may need to see a GP if they do not go away.
Symptoms
Chilblains usually appear a few hours after you've been in the cold. You mostly get them on your fingers and toes. But you can also get them on your face and legs.
Causes
You can get chilblains when it's cold. The cold makes the tiny blood vessels in your fingers and toes get smaller. This stops blood moving around as easily. If you warm up too quickly, the blood vessels get bigger again and blood rushes to your fingers and toes. This can cause pain or swelling.