Chilblains ( perniosis ) refers to a fairly characteristic skin disorder which occurs mainly in children. It consists of doughy, blue swelling of localized areas of cold-exposed skin. Whereas frostbite results from freezing temperatures, chilblains result from exposure to more moderate exposure to temperatures above the freezing point, usually when it is damp and cold but not freezing. It is most common in cold damp climates such as north western Europe and the more northern coastal areas of the US. The skin changes appear about 12-24 hours after cold exposure. The areas involved are usually the cheeks, ears, or hands, and are usually symmetric. Severe cases can progress to skin breakdown and ulceration, but this is unusual. Chilblains get better without treatment1 in one to three weeks. Naturally, avoidance of additional cold exposure during recovery makes sense. 1Nifedipine has been used for severe cases with tissue breakdown. Dermatology in General Medicine, Fitzpatrick et al,McGraw-Hill, 1993; p. 1583-1584 Chingwanhung Ointment for chilblains ( perniosis ) natural herb ointment for chilblains. Ingredients: Radix Sanguisorbae (Garden Burnet Root), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Chinese angelicae), Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis (ChineseCork-tree), Radix Arnebiae (Arnebia Root), Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (JapaneseHoneysuckler Flower), Flos Carthami (Safflower), Fructus Chaenomelis (CommonFloweringqince Fruit), Rhizoma Atractylodis (Atractylodes Rhizome), RadixAngelicae Dahuricae (Dahurian Angelica Root), Rhizoma Chuanxiong (SzechwanLovage Rhizome), Borneolum Syntheticum (Borneol), Sanguis Draconis (DragonsBlood), Olibanum, Myrrha, Cera Flava (Beeswax) and Oleum Sesami (Sesame Oil). Description: It is brown-red ointment with special oily smell. Usage and dosage: Clean the wound area with physiological saline, then applythe ointment directly on the surface area of the chilblains or rub the ointmenton the gauze to cover the wound area, bind up with sterilized gauze. Apply the ointment and change the gauze daily if needed.