Raynaud’s disease is when the fingers turn first white, then blue, then red, usually when the person is exposed to cold or stress.
- The fingers turn white as the blood vessels entering the fingers (the arterioles) constrict causing decreased bright red blood to reach them.
- The fingers turn blue as the oxygen in the tissues is depleted.
- Then, they turn red as the arterioles expand again, causing red blood to enter the fingers.
Raynaud’s phenomenon is classified as either primary or secondary. People with scleroderma (or other autoimmune diseases) have secondary raynaud’s; many healthy people (women especially) have primary raynauds and never develop any autoimmune disease.


3 comments
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May 4, 2008 at 9:53 am
Blue Fingers « bluefingers
[...] About Raynauds [...]
February 13, 2009 at 4:58 pm
seren
I am a 12 year old girl with raynauds, I have had it since i can remember really. It can be very painfull and my dad has to rub my hands to get them warm again. But because I had it at such a younge age im used to it, not only my hands and feet go blue my lips and nose do aswell. Is it not right I have it at a younge age i can’t remember not having it. when my fingers are blue they feel very cold, when they are white they are very numb I can’t pick anything up or anything, when they are red they burn like mad and it really does hurt. In a way I like to have it because not alot of people have it in my school and Im just different and I like that, Im not one of those girls that has to be like everyone els I like to be me and no one els.!
March 20, 2009 at 3:54 pm
bernie
I have Raynaud’s. It was just diagnosed. My extremeties are cold all the time. I wear Ugg boots all year. I protect and keep my computer hands warm using infrared heat. You can see infrared heat computer aids at IGMproducts.com. They are made by ValueRays®.
If these links work, click here:
ValueRays.com or at IGMproducts.com
Otherwise, click on my name. Heat helps!