Raynaud's Phenomenon.

Last updated Monday, December 27, 2004

Symptoms

Anatomy

Symptoms

As the blood flow decreases due to the narrowing of blood vessels, the following symptoms may be noted:

• Change of skin color in the affected area. First, the skin may turn white because there is little blood in that area. Then it may turn blue because the blood remains stagnant in the blood vessels due to improper flow. Finally, the skin my turn red or purple as blood begins flowing again. Sometimes skin may turn only white or blue.
• Numbness and/or coldness in the affected area as the blood flow slows. Pain may occur during episodes of secondary Raynaud's.
• Swelling, tingling, aching, warmth, and/or throbbing in the affected area as the blood begins flowing again.

Episodes of Raynaud's phenomenon usually occur only once in a while and typically don't cause permanent damage. Some people, however, may have frequent and severe episodes.

Without treatment, secondary Raynaud's phenomenon can damage the affected part of the body. When blood does not flow adequately to the tissues, sores called ulcers may develop. If left untreated, these sores can become infected and may take a long time to heal. This kind of damage rarely happens in primary Raynaud's phenomenon. Therefore, it is important to find out what type of Raynaud's phenomenon is present so that the proper treatment can be applied to prevent damage.

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