What is Raynaud’s disease?

Raynaud’s disease, also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon or Raynaud syndrome, is a condition that can make certain parts of your body, like your fingers and toes, feel really cold and numb when it’s cold outside or when you’re stressed. This happens because the small arteries that supply blood to your skin get narrower, which reduces blood flow to those areas. This narrowing of blood vessels is called vasospasm.

What gender suffers from Raynaud’s disease the most?

It’s more common in women than men and tends to affect people living in colder places. Raynaud’s disease isn’t usually a major disability but can impact your daily life.

What are the symptoms of Raynaud’s disease?

Here are some symptoms of Raynaud’s disease:

  1. Your fingers or toes feel very cold.
  2. Your skin in those areas turns white and then blue. The colour changes might be more noticeable depending on your skin tone.
  3. You might feel a numb, prickly sensation or even a stinging pain when your fingers or toes start warming up or when you’re less stressed.

What do you feel during the episode of Raynaud’s disease?

During a Raynaud’s episode, your affected skin will usually turn pale at first, then change colour to blue, and feel cold and numb. As your skin warms up and blood flow gets better, the affected areas might change colour again, and you might experience throbbing, tingling, or swelling.

Raynaud’s usually affects fingers and toes the most, but it can also affect other parts of your body like your nose, lips, ears, and even nipples. After you warm up, the blood flow can take about 15 minutes to return to normal in the affected area.

If you have a history of severe Raynaud’s and you notice a sore or infection in one of your affected fingers or toes, it’s essential to see a doctor promptly.

Where do I find a clinic for the treatment of Raynaud’s disease in Sydney? 

A Rheumatology clinic in Sydney looks after patients with Raynoud’s disease.