Frostnip & Chilblains (Erythema Pernio)

Frostnip: superficial nonfreezing injury

Chilblains: inflammatory skin changes caused by exposure to cold without actual freezing of the tissues

Frostnip

• Involved area has local paresthesias that completely resolve with passive external rewarming

• Distinct from frostbite in that ice crystals form on the skin but not within tissues and no tissue loss occurs

Chilblains

• Skin lesions may be red or purple papular lesions, which are painful or pruritic, with burning or paresthesias

• May be associated with edema or blistering and aggravated by warmth

• With continued exposure, ulcerative or hemorrhagic lesions may appear and progress to scarring, fibrosis, and atrophy

Diagnoses usually made clinically after a detailed history of cold exposure

Consists of elevating and passively externally rewarming the affected part

Rewarming can be done by

• Placing cold fingers in the axilla

• Removing footwear, drying feet, rewarming, and covering with adequate dry socks or other protective footwear