Synonym: pernio (Latin term for chilblains)
Clinical features:
(1) Skin lesions develop after exposure to cold, typically during the winter months.
(2) The skin of the ears, fingers, heel, and/or toes tend to be affected.
(3) Affected areas may initially show painful erythema, swelling and/or pruritis.
(4) With further exposure subcutaneous vesicles, bluish discoloration, tenderness, scaling and desquamation may develop.
(5) Eschars may form on the hands and feet with persistent pain (pernio).
(6) While the skin lesions reverse after removal from the cold and wet, pain may persist for some time afterwards.
Risk factors:
(1) mild peripheral vascular disease
(2) spina bifida
(3) Raynaud's phenomenon, vasculitis or cold agglutinins
(4) improper clothing for cold weather
(5) excessive moisture or perspiration
