How can I ease the pain in my hands playing tennis?

Now I've retired, I like playing tennis all year round as I can play in the off-peak sessions during the day when it is light, which I couldn't when I was working. But in the last few weeks, in the cold, I've been finding my fingers become swollen and red, sometimes with blisters. I presume this is chilblains, but is there anything I can do about them? I can't hold my racket wearing gloves.

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A This does sound like chilblains, which are red or purple lumps in the skin that can be itchy or sore. They are caused by an abnormal reaction to the cold, where first the blood vessels narrow, then as the skin re-warms, they widen and there is a leakage of fluid from them into the tissues, leading to inflammation.

Chilblains tend to develop in extremities that easily become cold - toes, fingers, the nose and earlobes, though they can develop elsewhere. They can occur at any age, though are more common in children and older people, and women are affected more than men.

Why some get them and others don't isn't known, though having diabetes, a family history of chilblains, or other conditions that affect the circulation can put you more at risk. Typically, each chilblain lasts about a week, then gradually goes away, and those affected often have repeated bouts each winter.

The best way of tackling chilblains is to stop the extremities from getting cold by wearing mittens, thick socks, and a hat that covers the ears when you go outside. Some people manage to play tennis wearing leather gloves, but if you find this impossible, then make sure you put warm mittens on the moment you come off the court.

There are various creams that can be bought from pharmacies that are marketed as being useful for chilblains, but unfortunately there is no evidence these are of any benefit.

Nifedipine tablets dilate small blood vessels and stop the initial narrowing that occurs with chilblains, so can be helpful for those who get persistent or repeated attacks in the winter months.