

Symptoms of secondary Raynaud's usually appear around age 40. Although secondary Raynaud's is less common than the primary form, it tends to be more serious. Also called Raynaud's phenomenon, this form develops because of another health condition. It can be so mild that many people with primary Raynaud's don't seek treatment. Also called Raynaud's disease, this most common form isn't the result of another medical condition. There are two main types of the condition. For some people, emotional stress can trigger an episode. Examples are putting hands in cold water, taking something from a freezer or being in cold air. Over time, these small arteries can thicken slightly and limit blood flow even more.Ĭold temperatures are the most likely cause of an attack. With Raynaud's, arteries to the fingers and toes narrow when exposed to cold or stress. But blood vessels in the hands and feet appear to react too strongly to cold temperatures or stress. See your health care provider right away if you have a history of severe Raynaud's and get a sore or infection in one of your affected fingers or toes.Įxperts don't fully understand the cause of Raynaud's attacks. After warming up, the return of blood flow to the area can take 15 minutes. But it also can affect other areas of the body, such as nose, lips, ears and even nipples. Raynaud's most commonly affects fingers and toes.
#Phenomena meaning skin#
When the skin warms and blood flow improves, the affected areas may change color again, throb, tingle or swell. Next, they often change color and feel cold and numb. Numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or stress relief.ĭuring an attack of Raynaud's, affected areas of the skin usually first turn pale.Depending on your skin color, these color changes may be harder or easier to see. Areas of skin that turn white then blue.The affected areas may feel cold and numb until blood flow improves, usually after warming up. The affected body parts, usually fingers and toes, might turn white then blue. Raynaud's disease causes smaller arteries that supply blood flow to the skin to narrow in response to cold or stress.
