This common condition affects up to 10 million people in the UK.
When exposed to the cold, blood vessels normally narrow. With Raynaud’s, this reaction is much more extreme – the blood vessels are oversensitive, even to slight temperature changes, the cold and sometimes stress.
In a Raynaud’s attack, a colour change occurs in affected areas, the skin turns white, then blue, and finally red as the circulation returns. This is uncomfortable and can be painful, making daily tasks, such as buttoning up a jacket, difficult. Usually affecting the fingers and toes, all extremities can be involved, including hands, feet, ears, nose, tongue, lips and nipples. Cold and numbness, tingling or pain occur, especially when circulation comes back.
There are two different types. Primary Raynaud’s occurs spontaneously without any underlying…
