TYPES OF PHENOMENA SKIN

Many factors, including nerve and hormonal signals, control blood flow in skin, and Raynaud’s phenomenon happens when this complex system gets disrupted.

TYPES OF PHENOMENA SKIN

Eventually, when you warm up and the vessels expand again, the skin flushes and may tingle or burn. This causes the skin to turn pale or white, then bluish as the blood left in the vessels becomes depleted of oxygen. In people with Raynaud’s phenomenon, blood vessels in the hands and feet react to cold or stress, narrowing quickly and staying constricted for a long period. To do so, blood vessels in the surface layer of the skin constrict (narrow), moving blood from vessels near the surface to those deeper in the body. When a person is exposed to cold, the body tries to slow the loss of heat and maintain its temperature.

Scientists do not know exactly why Raynaud’s phenomenon develops in some people, but they do understand how attacks happen. People with the secondary form tend to have more severe symptoms. In rare cases, an extended episode (days) of a lack of oxygen to tissues can lead to gangrene (cellular death and decay of body tissues).įor many people, especially those with the primary form of Raynaud’s phenomenon, the symptoms are mild and not highly troublesome. People with severe Raynaud’s phenomenon can develop small, painful sores, especially at the tips of the fingers or toes. An attack may last a few minutes or a few hours, and the pain associated with each episode can vary. The thumbs are less likely to be affected than the other fingers. Only one finger or toe may be affected at first then, it may move to other fingers and toes. Finally, as you warm up and circulation returns, the area turns red and may swell, tingle, burn, or throb.The area then turns blue and feels cold and numb, as the blood that is left in the tissue loses its oxygen.The skin of the affected part of the body turns pale or white due to lack of blood flow.Parts of the body besides the fingers and toes, such as the ears or nose may be affected as well. Sudden changes in ambient temperature, such as when entering an air-conditioned supermarket on a warm day, can lead to an attack.Įmotional stress, cigarette smoking, and vaping can also trigger symptoms. Exposure to cold is the most common trigger, such as grabbing hold of a glass of ice water or taking something out of the freezer. Raynaud’s phenomenon happens when episodes or “attacks” affect certain parts of the body, especially the fingers and toes, causing them to become cold and numb, and change colors. Repeated use of vibrating machinery (such as a jackhammer), or exposure to cold or certain chemicals. Medications used to treat high blood pressure, migraines, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may cause symptoms similar to Raynaud’s phenomenon or make underlying Raynaud’s phenomenon worse. Conditions such as certain thyroid disorders, clotting disorders, and carpal tunnel syndrome have also been linked to the secondary form. Among the most common ones are lupus, scleroderma, inflammatory myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Factors that have been linked to secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon include: The secondary form of Raynaud’s phenomenon occurs in combination with another disease or an environmental exposure. People with a family member who has Raynaud’s phenomenon have a higher risk of getting it themselves, suggesting a genetic link. Family history of Raynaud’s phenomenon.It usually occurs in people younger than age 30 and often starts in the teenage years. The primary form of Raynaud’s phenomenon, which is of unknown cause, has been linked to: There are two types and the risk factors for each are different. Anyone can get Raynaud’s phenomenon, but some people are more likely to have it than others.

Types of phenomena