In the middle of winter, the cold wind blows on our faces, causing a series of effects on our bodies. As the largest organ of the human body, skin is also the first line of defense against external stimuli. Lack of protection may lead to a series of diseases. Let’s take a look at which skin diseases are related to winter.
Chilblain
Chilblain is a local inflammatory damage to the skin and a local congestion caused by cold and humid conditions. The onset of chilblain is not a single-factor disease:
- Wet (humid environment, sweaty hands and feet, etc.); Local poor blood circulation (shoes and socks are too tight, there are basic diseases such as diabetic foot, or lack of exercise); Fatigue; Systemic factors such as malnutrition (e.g. Anemia, etc.).
These factors will lead to chilblain.
What should I do?
As an ancient and common minor illness, In fact, there is no particularly effective treatment for chilblain. We can take some vasodilators orally. For example, nicotinic acid (vitamin PP) can also be wet applied with a warm towel or applied and massaged with vegetable oils such as olive oil. However, all these methods can only make us feel less itchy and sore for a short time, but no method can make it recover early. It will not recover until the warm spring comes.
Therefore, the prevention of chilblain is very important:
- Keeping warm is very necessary: if you live in all conditions, you should try to keep the room temperature not lower than 10 ℃; If you go out, Attention should be paid to keeping the weak parts warm. Abandon tight pants/socks, They make your lower limbs tight and circulate poorly. For a moment of beautiful lines, my toes became red, swollen and desquamated for several months. It is not worth it. Never warm up or soak in hot water immediately after getting cold: Rapid changes in heat and cold are one of the causes of chilblain. When we are in a cold environment for a long time, The peripheral blood vessels are contracting, Sudden contact with overheated hot water or warm fire will cause capillaries to relax and expand suddenly. Local blood circulation immediately stagnates, Chilblain will soon develop. Moderate physical exercise: It can promote the whole body blood circulation and is the ultimate means to prevent chilblain. Running and other aerobic exercises can achieve the goal. Pregnant women, the elderly, the physically weak and people with cardiac dysfunction do not have to force themselves to do heavy exercise, but can replace it with brisk walking or walking.
Cold urticaria
It is precisely because some urticaria patients will also suffer from the disease when exposed to cold wind that those flaky and convex rashes will be named wind masses!
Urticaria is an allergic disease with many classifications, which is not only induced by fish, shrimp and pollen, but also partly induced by cold. Cold urticaria is more common in the skin of exposed places such as face and hands, usually accompanied by a certain degree of pruritus. Like most urticaria, rash can subside by itself but recurs in batches.
Wrap the ice cubes with towels and apply them to any area of the skin for several minutes. The same wind mass can be induced artificially and can be identified.
What should I do?
Patients with cold urticaria usually have a chronic course of disease. Once they encounter cold, the disease will definitely occur. We can’t change our constitution, we can always change our behavior:
- Reduce going out in cold seasons; Wear gloves, hats, masks and other shielding and cold-proof equipment when going out.
If the protection is not proper, still or the disease, also don’t endure, the doctor there is a variety of antihistamines, there is always a suitable for you. Urticaria pruritus is extremely itchy, many patients can itch to sleep. Don’t embarrass yourself, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Skin diseases that are heavy in winter and light in summer.
In addition to skin diseases directly induced by cold, dry winter climate can also aggravate some skin diseases, such as:
- Senile pruritus: Decrease in sebum secretion due to aging, Can cause dry skin pruritus in the elderly. Eczema: The most common chronic skin allergy, As the skin barrier function is damaged, long-term moisturizing is needed to reduce the onset of the disease. Psoriasis: Commonly known as [psoriasis], but it is not real tinea. Normal skin has an appropriate process from regeneration to dandruff. Psoriasis can lead to abnormal increase of dandruff, and dry climate can also accelerate the exfoliation of this epidermal scale.
What should I do?
Elderly pruritus patients: Special attention should be paid to moisturizing care in winter. Vaseline, wool ester and other creams and ointments with low stimulation and strong moisturizing performance should be applied externally after each bath, so as to safely survive the long winter.
Patients with eczema: Should pay attention to moisturizing when the disease does not begin, the onset period can go to dermatology department to ask a doctor to prescribe some antihistamine drugs or hormone ointment for local external use, and obtain life guidance suitable for individuals. Avoid hot water compress scalding the affected part, so it can only relieve the qi for a while, and later it will make the disease more and more serious.
Psoriasis: Patients at rest can be treated with cream or ointment made of urea and vitamin E to prevent recurrence. Eating more coarse grains and fruits and vegetables rich in B vitamins, or dried fruits, beans, egg yolk and other substances rich in vitamin E can also be helpful.