Winter Skin Health: Managing Chilblains and Eczema

Chilblains are burning red areas that occur on the end of fingers, toes and other areas of the skin that have been exposed to the cold. They generally occur a few hours after the exposure so you may not always recognise what is causing the itching and burning that usually always follows the damage from the cold.

When the extremities get cold, the blood vessels in these areas become smaller, and when the area warms up again, some of the blood is thought to ‘leak out’ into the surrounding areas causing pain, swelling, and itching.

Helping to prevent chilblains:

Some people are more likely to develop chilblains, and they should prepare for the possibility of weather changes causing circulation problems.

Be prepared with gloves, scarves, and hats to keep warm.
Once exposed skin has chilled it is best to warm the area gradually, with warm water rather than hot, and gently rubbing or massage with simple moisturiser and emollients to prevent sudden temperature change.
Cover the ear lobes if out in the chilly weather, and after exposure gently rub them with a moisturiser as well.

Treating chilblains:

Once a chilblain has developed, the priority is to prevent the skin from breaking and infection occurring.

It is important to prevent further exposure to the cold, so keep on covering the affected areas whenever the temperature drops rapidly, or when going outdoors in chilly weather.

We can advise you as to how to treat chilblains, help to heal the damage and how to prevent them from occurring in the future. If you have suffered from chilblains in the past, come and see us to prevent repeated occurrences of this painful condition.

Keeping your eczema under control this winter.

Symptoms of eczema are a skin rash that might be inflamed, swollen, itchy, red, flaky or dry. When skin is dry and cracked it is more susceptible to bacterial infections, so the skin may also appear weepy, oozing or bleeding.

There are several options for effectively managing this condition. Corticosteroids are commonly used to manage mild to moderate eczema, but it is important that you ask us about using corticosteroids effectively. You should always try to use the lowest effective strength and use as little as possible. Corticosteroids must be applied sparingly to the affected areas and only when needed as they thin the skin.

If you get eczema on your face, it is important that only mild corticosteroids are used, as the skin in this area is thinner and more prone to absorption and side effects. Stronger corticosteroids may be used on other parts of the body and during severe flare-ups.

Eczema is influenced by lifestyle factors so ask us about managing your eczema. Some people develop flare-ups when there are sudden changes in the weather, so where possible try to anticipate changes in weather (for example, during travel) and prepare yourself with effective treatments.

Stress can also trigger flare-ups so try to avoid or manage stress as best you can. Stress management involves changing the stressful situation, changing the reaction if the situation is unavoidable, practising better health care and making time for rest and relaxation. Getting enough sleep is also an important factor.

Also try to avoid known allergens, like dust mites, pollen and animals, and certain types of clothing, such as wool and synthetics. Some foods can also cause flare-ups - common food allergens include spicy foods, alcohol, food colouring, wheat, eggs, soy and peanut products.

Try to avoid long, hot baths and don’t scratch if you develop itchy rashes. Seek advice from your community pharmacist if your skin appears infected.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only. It is not intended as medical or health advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your individual medical needs.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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