A Case of Longstanding Idiopathic Pernio/Chilblain Disease

Pernio, also known as chilblains, presents as erythematous macules at sites of cold exposure, mainly in women. It is a diagnosis that is often overlooked, and when suspecting a patient with pernio, other conditions such as lupus nephritis and Raynaud’s must be ruled out. A 46-year-old lady presented to the clinic with skin findings suggestive of pernio. She had erythematous macules on the dorsum of her hands, which appeared during cold weather and lasted for three weeks. She had been suffering with this condition for over 18 years and nothing has helped her condition, other than preventing cold exposure. There are limited treatment options for pernio, and current management includes using steroids, calcium-channel blockers and cold avoidance. Current research has suggested that pernio could also be linked to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.