Chilblain Season Is Here Again: Tips On Control

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 47, 18 May 1948, Page 3

Chilblain Season Is Here Again: Tips On Control

(By the Department of Health)

Once more the chilblain season is upon us, the season of cold feet, cold toes, cold fingers, cold ears and cold noses. That, for' so many of us, spells chilblains.

■ Those who suffer must avoid any constriction, or tightness of footwear or gloves, so that circulation, is not impeded in the slightest degree. Free movement of the toes and fingers helps to prevent them from becoming cold and stiff. Hou’se slippers should have thick soles to keep out the chills and draughts that swirl about the floors in winter.

If you are subject to chilblains and your hands and feet become cold an dead, warm them up like this: Gently massage the toes and fingers with a soft, dry towel; then place your hands.and feet in tepid water and gradually add hot water until the toes and fingers start to glow; then gradually reduce- the temperature by adding cold water. Afterwards, massage the fingers and toes again. In spite of this treatment, the chilblains may develop again. If so, th,e next best thing to do is to paint them with Friar’g balsam.

Cracked lips are another trouble in the weather ahead. The centre of the lower lip cracks easily in cold air. This painful business can be prevented by painting the lips with cold cream or lanoline before going out into cold weather. If a crack, appears in spite of these precautions, pull the sides of the lips apart to open the crack and fill it with friar’s balsam or hazeline cream. It hurts a bit, but is usually pretty efrective.