點解冬天隻腳會「生蘿蔔仔」？
Why do Your Toes Get Red and Swollen in Winter?
「藥劑師，一到冬天，行路就好痛，屋企老人家話我隻腳「生蘿蔔仔」，究竟係咩嚟架？」
“Hello Pharmacist, my toes get very painful when walking in cold weather. My grandparents call them as ‘little carrot’. What does it mean?”
相信好多年輕讀者都會心感疑惑，聽唔明「生蘿蔔仔」嘅意思。「生蘿蔔仔」即係凍瘡。凍瘡係一種皮膚對寒冷環境嘅發炎反應，較常喺冬天濕冷嘅日子發病，氣溫回暖時好轉。
“Growing little carrots” is indeed an old Chinese saying referring to “Chilblains”. “Chilblains” is skin inflammation reacting to cold temperature. It occurs mostly during cold and wet weather and will improve once the temperature gets warmer.
凍瘡常見於四肢末端及血液流動較慢嘅部位，如手指、腳趾、面頰以及耳廓等。患處會呈現紅色或紫色嘅斑疹、丘疹或斑塊，疼痛腫脹。患處有時會痕癢，若果唔小心抓破皮膚，有機會令細菌乘虛而入，造成傷口感染。
Chilblains are most seen in body extremities and body parts with slower circulation such as fingers, toes, face and ears. The affected areas might get swollen, forming red or purple patches with painful and burning sensation. Sometimes the areas get very itchy. Scratching the affected area may form open wound, making it prone to bacterial infection.
凍瘡大多症狀輕微，對皮膚唔會造成永久性損害。治療嘅重點係適當地保暖及避免患處繼續受寒，兩至三星期內會逐漸康復。
Symptoms of chilblains are usually mild. It could hardly cause permanent damage to skin. The mainstay of treatment is to keep the affected area warm with properly insulated clothing and avoid exposure to cold weather. The condition usually resolves within 2 to 3 weeks.
天氣寒冷時應避免皮膚外露，採用「洋蔥式」嘅著衫方法，即多層次嘅著法，按需要加入易於排汗、保暖、防風等機能嘅衣服，防止體溫流失。面頰同手腳等容易忽略嘅部位則應以圍巾、手套及厚棉襪保護。
To prevent chilblains, avoid direct exposure to cold air. Make sure to dress in layers, adding appropriate clothing, such as windbreakers, waterproof or sweat-proof jackets, according to your needs. Remember to wrap warm clothes around face, hands and legs using scarf, gloves and leg warmer.
由於水分會加速皮膚表面溫度流失，如果發現衣物襪子沾濕應盡快更換。
As water will speed up temperature loss, replace the damp clothes as soon as possible.
若患處痕癢，塗抹潤膚膏能保持皮膚柔潤，舒緩痕癢。千其唔好用手抓或磨擦患處，以防細菌感染。
Applying moisturizer can help to keep the skin moisturized and relieve itchiness. Avoid scratching and rubbing the affected area as it might cause wound infection.
患有血管毛病以致血液循環不良、糖尿病或傷口較難癒合嘅患者，由於患處受感染嘅風險較高，所以當懷疑患上凍瘡就應該即刻求醫處理。
Patients with poor circulation and diabetes may cause poor healing and higher risk of infection. Stay cautious and seek medical help.
屈臣氏藥劑師團隊
Watsons Pharmacy Team
