What does pernio mean?
Pernio is the medical term for chilblains, a condition in which exposure to cold causes small blood vessels near the skin to become inflamed. The affected skin may become red or purple, swollen, itchy, painful, or burning. The fingers and toes are especially vulnerable, although pernio can also affect the face, ears, and other exposed areas. Cold, damp conditions can make the problem more likely, and people with poor circulation may be more susceptible. In ordinary conversation, most English speakers use the word chilblains rather than pernio, but pernio remains important in medical and dermatological writing. It is sometimes used collectively with the related term perniosis, which can refer more broadly to the condition or to an outbreak or widespread occurrence of chilblains.
nounA medical term for chilblains: a painful, itchy swelling of the small blood vessels in the fingers, toes, face, or other exposed areas after exposure to cold. The condition is also called perniosis.
- An inflammatory condition of small blood vessels caused by exposure to cold, producing redness, swelling, burning, and itching, especially in the fingers and toes.
"The doctor diagnosed pernio, caused by prolonged exposure to the freezing weather."
"After several hours outdoors, she developed painful pernio in her fingers."
"Pernio is a particularly common problem among children in cold, damp weather."
Rare in general use; plural forms are more likely to appear in medical writing.
"Severe pernios affected several of the patient's toes."
Pernio is the clinical name for chilblains, the small red or purple swellings that can appear after the skin is chilled.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pernio come from?
Pernio was borrowed into English from Latin, where pernio meant a chilblain or similar swelling caused by cold. The ultimate origin of the Latin word is uncertain, so its deeper historical derivation cannot be stated with confidence. English later developed perniosis as a related medical term, while pernial refers to the affected condition.
Related word forms
How pernio is actually used
Pernio is a formal medical term and is less common in everyday speech than chilblains. It is used in clinical and dermatological contexts.