RAYNAUD IS WHAT CAUSES: WHITE PALM, WHITE FINGERS, BLACK FINGERS, PURE BLACK LIPS AND PURE BLACK NIPPLE . PUBLISHED BY ECHEKWU SUNDAY.

Everything You Need to Know About RAYNAUD’s Phenomenon.

Medically reviewed by ECHEKWU SUNDAY JR.

Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition where blood flow to your fingers, toes, ears, or nose is restricted or interrupted. This occurs when the blood vessels in your hands or feet constrict. Episodes of constriction are called vasospasms .

Raynaud’s phenomenon can accompany underlying medical conditions. Vasospasms that are provoked by other conditions, such as arthritis ,

frostbite , or autoimmune disease , are called secondary Raynaud’s.

Raynaud’s phenomenon can also occur on its own. People who experience Raynaud’s but are otherwise healthy are said to have primary Raynaud’s.

Cold temperatures and emotional stress can trigger episodes of Raynaud’s phenomenon.

The most common symptom of Raynaud’s phenomenon is discoloration of your fingers, toes, ears, or nose. 

When the blood vessels carrying blood to your extremities become blocked, the affected areas turn pure white and feel ice cold.

You lose sensation in the affected areas. Your skin may also take on a blue tinge.

People with primary Raynaud’s usually feel a drop in body temperature in the affected region, but little pain. Those who have secondary Raynaud’s often experience severe pain, numbness, and tingling in the fingers or toes. Episodes may last a few minutes or up to several hours.

When the vasospasm is over and you enter a warm environment, your fingers and toes may throb and appear bright red. The rewarming process begins after your circulation improves. Your fingers and toes may not feel warm for 15 minutes or more after circulated is restored.

If you have primary Raynaud’s, you may find that the same fingers or toes on each side of your body are affected at the same time. If you have secondary Raynaud’s, you may have symptoms on one or both sides of your body.

No two vasospasm episodes are exactly alike, even in the same person.

Doctors don’t fully understand the cause of Raynaud’s. Secondary Raynaud’s is usually related to medical conditions or lifestyle habits that affect your blood vessels or connective tissue, such as:

smoking

use of medications and drugs that narrow your arteries, such as beta-blockers and amphetamines

arthritis

atherosclerosis , which is the hardening of your arteries

autoimmune conditions, such as lupus,

scleroderma , rheumatoid arthritis , or Sjogren’s syndrome

Common triggers of Raynaud’s symptoms include:

cold temperatures

emotional stress

working with hand tools that emit vibrations

Construction workers who use jackhammers, for example, may have an increased risk of vasospasm. However, not everyone with the condition will have the same triggers. It’s important to pay attention to your body and learn what your triggers are.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, women are

more likely than men to develop Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Young adults under the age of 30 have an increased risk of developing the primary form of the condition. The onset of secondary Raynaud’s is more common in adults in their 30s and 40s.

Those who live in colder geographic regions are more likely to be affected by Raynaud’s phenomenon than inhabitants of warmer climates.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam, take your medical history, and have your blood drawn to diagnose Raynaud’s phenomenon.

They will ask you about your symptoms and may perform a capillaroscopy , which is a microscopic examination of the nail folds near your fingernails to determine if you have primary or secondary Raynaud’s.

People with secondary Raynaud’s often have enlarged or deformed blood vessels near their nail folds. This is in contrast to primary Reynaud’s, where your capillaries often appear normal when a vasospasm is not occurring.

Blood tests can reveal whether or not you test positive for antinuclear antibodies (ANA). The presence of ANAs can mean you are more likely to experience autoimmune or connective tissue disorders. These conditions put you at risk for secondary Raynaud’s.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes are a large part of the treatment process for Raynaud’s phenomenon. Avoiding substances that cause your blood vessels to constrict is the first line of treatment. This includes avoiding caffeine and nicotine products.

Staying warm and exercising can also prevent or reduce the intensity of some attacks. Exercise is particularly good for promoting circulation and managing stress.

Medication

Your doctor may prescribe medication if you have frequent, long-lasting, or intense vasospasm episodes. Drugs that help your blood vessels relax and widen include:

antidepressants

antihypertension medications

erectile dysfunction drugs

Some medications can also make your condition worse because they constrict blood vessels. Examples include:

beta-blockers

estrogen-based drugs

migraine medicines

birth control pills

pseudoephedrine -based cold medicines

If you are experiencing vasospasms, it’s important to keep yourself warm. To help cope with an attack, you can:

Cover your hands or feet with socks or gloves.

Get out of the cold and wind and rewarm your entire body.

Run your hands or feet under lukewarm (not hot) water.

Massage your extremities.

Staying calm can help reduce the severity of your attack. Try to remain as relaxed and stress-free as possible. It may help to physically remove yourself from stressful situations. Concentrating on your breathing can also help you calm down.

If you have Raynaud’s phenomenon, your outlook depends on your overall health. Over the long term, secondary Raynaud’s poses larger concerns than the primary form. People who have secondary Raynaud’s are more likely to get an infection, skin ulcers , and gangrene.

© ECHEKWU SUNDAY JR