Chilblains — also known as
pernio and
perniosis — is a medical condition that occurs when a predisposed individual is exposed to cold and humidity, causing tissue damage. It is often confused with
frostbite and
trench foot. Damage to
capillary beds in the
skin causes
redness,
itching,
inflammation, and sometimes
blisters. Chilblains can be reduced by keeping the feet and hands warm in cold weather, and avoiding extreme temperature changes. Chilblains can be
idiopathic (spontaneous and unrelated to another disease), but may also be a manifestation of another serious medical condition that needs to be investigated. A history of chilblains is suggestive of a
connective tissue disease (such as
lupus). Chilblains in infants, together with severe neurologic disease and unexplained fevers, can be seen in
Aicardi–Goutières syndrome, a rare inherited condition.