If your hands or feet are changing color when they hit the cold, it could signal a serious health issue that doctors insist you should not ignore.
When the temperature drops, it’s normal to feel a little chilly. But if your hands and feet turn white, blue, or even purple in cold weather, you may be dealing with more than just winter discomfort.
According to Dr. James O’Donovan, who offers medical advice to his more than 400,000 followers on YouTube, the culprit might be Raynaud’s disease, a condition that can cause some areas of the body to feel numb in response to cold temperatures or stress.
“In Raynaud’s disease the smaller arteries that supply blood to the skin narrow in response to triggers like cold weather this limits blood flow to the affected areas which is called vasospasm and it then results in symptoms of Raynaud’s,” he said in his YouTube clip.
Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, before feeling cold and numb, the affected areas of the skin usually first turn pale and then change color.
Symptoms include:
- Cold fingers or toes.
- Areas of skin that turn white then blue. Depending on your skin color, these color changes may be harder or easier to see.
- Numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or easing of stress.
“In terms of signs and symptoms, the first thing that you’re likely to notice are the areas of your skin can turn white then blue but depending on your skin colour,” Dr. O’Donovan said.
“These colour changes may be harder or easier to see, you may also notice that you’ve got particularly cold fingers or toes or you might notice other changes in the sensation of your hands or feet so things like a numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain.”
He points out that research has not yet been able to determine what’s behind this, but that it usually goes away when the hands and/or feet warm up again.
“Now when the skin warms, and blood flow improves the affected areas may change colour again they may throb tingle or swell…Now even after you’ve warmed up it can take up to 15 minutes for blood flow to return to the area,” he said, adding the numbing or color change can be experienced on other parts of the body, such as the nose, lips, and ears.
Types of Raynaud’s
Raynaud’s disease comes in two forms – primary and secondary – and while both cause your fingers and toes to change color in the cold, they have some key differences.
Primary – Raynaud’s disease: This is the most common and typically mild form. It happens on its own, without being linked to another health condition. Many people with primary Raynaud’s barely notice their symptoms and never need treatment. In some cases, it even disappears over time.
Secondary – Raynaud’s phenomenon: This type is less common but usually more severe because it’s triggered by an underlying health issue like an autoimmune disease, vascular disorder, or nerve condition. Unlike primary Raynaud’s, secondary Raynaud’s may require medical treatment to prevent complications.
When to see a doctor
According to O’Donovan, visit your doctor if:
- Symptoms are only on one side of the body.
- You also have joint pains, skin rashes or muscle weaknesses.
- Fingers or toes stay discolored for an extended period.
- You experience severe pain, open sores, or signs of infection.
- You have a history of diabetes, heart disease, or autoimmune disorders.
Always prioritize your health and if you feel something is out of order, make sure you see your doctor. Please share this story so others will also know what to look out for!