Raynaud's syndrome is a peripheral artery disease that affects normal blood circulation in the hands and feet. Symptoms occur in response to cold temperatures, and include cold and pale fingers that turn blue, or purple, that then return to a red, or more normal color. This phenomenon can also affect other areas of the body, like the nose or earlobes.

The specific cause of this condition is not fully known, however it may be associated with exposure to cold environments and sudden emotional changes. It is more commonly diagnosed in women.

Treatment for Raynaud's syndrome, also known as Raynaud's disease or phenomenon, is carried out by a rheumatologist, who may advise avoiding exposure to low temperatures or factors that can cause crises, or even using antihypertensive drugs.

Common symptoms

The main symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome are:

Cold fingers or toes
Pale or white spots on the fingers
Purple or blue skin, after the white spots have appeared
Red skin after the white and blue spots disappear
Sensation of numbness, pins and needles or tingling in the fingers
Sharp pain or swelling in your hands or feet

Furthermore, in more serious cases, ulcers may appear on the skin, due to prolonged contraction of blood vessels and decreased blood flow. This results in insufficient oxygen reaching the skin. In some cases, gangrene may develop.

Symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome usually start in one finger and then spread to others, with the thumbs generally not being affected.

Although this condition most commonly affects the fingers or toes, symptoms can also appear in other areas of the body, such as the nose or ears.

Confirming a diagnosis

Raynaud's syndrome is typically diagnosed by a rheumatologist or general practitioner who will assess your symptoms, as well as when they started and a physical examination observing lesions on the skin of the hands, feet, nose or ears.

To rule out other conditions that may present similar symptoms, like lupus pernio or perniosis, the doctor may order additional testing, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA) or red blood cell sedimentation rate (ESR).

Possible causes

The main causes of Raynaud's syndrome include:

Constant or prolonged exposure to cold
Connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome
Obstructive vascular diseases, such as thromboangiitis obliterans, diabetic angiopathy or atherosclerosis
Working with vibrating or typing machines
Use of migraine medications, interferon or cyclosporine
Infections, such as parvovirus, cytomegalovirus, or hepatitis B or C

Other diseases that can cause Raynaud's syndrome are fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, polycythemia vera or arteriovenous fistula, for example.

In addition, some factors, such as smoking or intense stress, can also increase the risk of Raynaud's phenomenon attacks.

Treatment options

The treatment of Raynaud's syndrome should be carried out as guided by a rheumatologist or general practitioner to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms, and to prevent complications.

The doctor may recommend measures like warming the affected region to reestablish blood circulation, avoiding prolonged exposure to the cold, keeping hands, feet and ears covered, avoiding stressful environments and stopping smoking.

In addition, the doctor may prescribe vasodilator medications, such as nifedipine or amlodipine, to improve blood circulation in the hands and feet, or phosphodiesterase inhibitors, such as sildenafil.

It is also important to treat any underyling health conditions that may be triggering any symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome.