Skin Conditions
Signs & Symptoms
* Fingers or toes turn pale white or blue, then red, in response to cold temperatures.
* Pain when the fingers or toes turn white.
* Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.
Causes
Often the cause is unknown and not serious. Cold hands and feet can be a symptom of the conditions that follow.
* Poor circulation. This is most often due to diseased arteries.
* Raynaud’s disease. This is a disorder that affects the flow of blood to the fingers and sometimes to the toes.
* Any underlying disease that affects the blood flow in the tiny blood vessels of the skin. Women who smoke may be more prone to this.
* Frostbite.
* Stress.
* A side effect of taking certain medicines
* Cervical rib syndrome. This is a compression of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck that affects the shoulders, arms, and hands.
Treatment
Emergency care is needed for frostbite. If a medical condition causes cold hands and/or feet, treatment for the condition is needed.
Questions to Ask
Self-Care / Prevention
* Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit.
* Avoid caffeine.
* Don’t handle cold objects with bare hands. Use ice tongs to pick up ice cubes, etc.
* Set your indoor thermostat at 65ºF or higher.
* Wear mittens and wool socks to keep hands and feet warm.
* Don’t wear tight-fitting footwear.
* Wiggle your toes. It may help keep them warm by increasing blood flow.
* Stretch your fingers straight out. Swing your arms in large circles like a baseball pitcher warming up for a game. This may increase blood flow to the fingers. Skip this tip if you have bursitis or back problems.
* Meditate. Learn and practice biofeedback.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine