Raynaud's

Raynaud's phenomenon is common and does not usually cause any severe problems. You can often treat the symptoms yourself by keeping warm. Sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious condition.

Check if it's Raynaud's

Raynaud's affects your blood circulation. When you're cold, anxious or stressed, your fingers and toes may change colour.

Other symptoms can include:

pain
numbness
pins and needles
difficulty moving the affected area

White fingers caused by Raynaud's — The skin turns white as blood flow is restricted.

Blue fingers caused by Raynaud's — Sometimes the skin turns blue as blood vessels react.

Red fingers caused by Raynaud's — The skin turns red as blood flow returns.

Some people also find their ears, nose, lips or nipples are affected.

The symptoms of Raynaud's may last from a few minutes to a few hours.

If you're not sure it's Raynaud's

A table of possible causes of symptoms.
Symptoms	Possible causes
Pins and needles that lasts for a few minutes	Resting or sleeping on part of the body
Breathing too quickly, trembling hands, pins and needles, but fingers do not change colour	Hyperventilation
Burning or itchy swelling on fingers and toes, happens after being very cold, gets worse as you warm up	Chilblains

Things you can do to help with Raynaud's

Do

keep your home warm
wear warm clothes during cold weather – especially on your hands and feet
exercise regularly – this helps improve circulation
try breathing exercises or yoga to help you relax
eat a healthy, balanced diet

Don't

do not smoke – improve your circulation by stopping smoking
do not drink too much tea, coffee or cola – caffeine and other stimulants can stop you relaxing

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

your symptoms are very bad or getting worse
Raynaud's is affecting your daily life
you only have numbness on 1 side of your body
you also have joint pain, skin rashes or muscle weakness
you're over 30 and get symptoms of Raynaud's for the first time
your child is under 12 and has symptoms of Raynaud's

Treatment for Raynaud's from a GP

If your symptoms are very bad or getting worse, a GP may prescribe a medicine called nifedipine to help improve your circulation.

Some people need to take nifedipine every day. Others only use it to prevent Raynaud's – for example, during cold weather.

Sometimes a GP will examine you and suggest a blood test. In rare cases, Raynaud's could be a sign of a more serious condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Support from SRUK

SRUK is the UK charity for people with scleroderma and Raynaud's.

It offers:

Page last reviewed: 8 September 2017
Next review due: 8 September 2020